Chandigarh perfect place to hold protest: Rakesh Tikait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2

Chandigarh’s beauty is mesmerising and even the famous farmer leader Rakesh Tikait couldn’t resist appreciating the greenery, wide roads and a clear view of the Himalayas.

“We don’t even need tents here, such a wide range of trees to save us from the scorching heat. All you need is to sit without any basic arrangements,” said Tikait, while addressing the farmers near the Matka Chowk.

He said, “It’s a fine place to protest and enjoy nature. Nnow that we have entered Chandigarh, let’s ensure our presence here quite often. You can actually visit nearby hill stations after protest.”

Last year, the farmer leader came here in support of the local street vendors, who were protesting outside the Sector 17 Municipal Corporation office.

“I extend my support to the protest. We are raising genuine demands and the Punjab Government should pay heed to it. The five-day protest is just a trailer, as the unions have shown that no city or place is out of their reach to wake up the authorities. The farmers are contributing to the nation and they have all the rights to raise their demands in a peaceful manner,” said Tikait, while supporting a law that would gave MSP guarantee. “The demands are for a new agriculture policy. The Punjab Government should talk to farmers and their leaders and frame a policy. We can make suggestions. There are many issues, including one pertaining to depleting ground water,” he added.

Supporting the ‘Kheti Niti Morcha’ (on agriculture policy), various organisations, including contractual employees’ unions and a segment of the Democratic Teachers’ Front participated in the protest. The general secretary, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, Lachhman Singh Sewewala, demanded promotion of chemical-free crops, compensation for families of farmers who died by suicide and measures to address the drug problem in the state. Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan was also leading the protest and demanded a fair hearing and resolution by the Punjab Government. Ugrahan said his outfit’s programmes would continue and the next course of action would be decided on September 5. He hit out at the AAP government and claimed there was no difference in some of the policies that the Bhagwant Mann regime was pursuing and what his predecessors did. “The development which the Centre claimed would take place by building major highways (especially Amritsar-Katra Highway) was actually going to be for the corporates. These roads are not for us but to facilitate the corporate houses, so that they can sell their produce and easily procure material from here. In the previous times, the British laid the rail network to bring their own goods and sell it at desired rates. However, they make the general public believe that the network was for their wellbeing,” claimed Ugrahan.

“The farmers are protesting against alleged delays in the implementation of an agriculture policy. The Punjab Government had not taken any meaningful step on it.,” said Pavitar Singh, a leader.

Stir to continue

While many unions returned on Monday evening, other farmer organisations will stay put at the Sector 34 protest site. Many leaders are expected to reach the city in the coming days to address the protesters. The traffic diversions are likely to be continued for the next few days.