Farmer unions hold protest, burn Central Govt’s effigy

Ludhiana, August 1
The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had given a call to protest against the decision of the Haryana Government to honour police officers who opened fire at farmers.
Farmers from the unions gathered outside the DC’s office and burnt the effigy of the BJP-led Central Government.
Sapinder Singh Bagga, district president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta (Sidhupur), said the BJP was trying to humiliate farmers of Punjab by honouring their tormentors. “Everyone in this country has the right to protest but this government has taken away that right as well and tortured farmers for raising their voice against the government,” he said.
“Farmer Shubhkaran Singh and Surinderpal Singh Akri lost their lives while farmer Pritpal Singh lost his eye sight due to the oppression of the police force, inflicted upon farmers. Nearly 700 farmers lost their lives during the first Kisan Andolan,” he added.
He said the decision of the Haryana Government was highly condemnable and unfortunate. The BJP always honours the people who hurt farmers. By doing the same, it was trying to humiliate the farmers of the country, especially Punjab.
The main demands of farmers include legal guarantee of MSP on their produce, withdrawal of police cases against them during earlier protests, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, debt waivers and no hike in electricity tariff.