Despite curbs, farmers hold statewide protest in Punjab

Tribune Reporters

Chandigarh, July 27

Farmers held tractor rallies across Punjab today to protest the three farm ordinances mooted by the BJP-led NDA government. They marched on their tractors, following social distancing norms, towards houses of SAD and BJP MLAs and ministers.

The protest was held by 12 agrarian organisations under the aegis of All-India Kisan Sangharsh Committee.

The farmers are upset with The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, which allows bypassing of the existing Agriculture Produce Market Committees and paves way for selling produce to private players outside the mandis. Farmers believe that this would encourage privatisation in mandis, putting them at the mercy of the corporates.

Bathinda: Farmers, under the banner of BKU Ekta Ugrahan, protested outside the office of Union Minister and MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today. Also, BKU (Krantikari) activists took out a tractor march outside the house of former minister Sikander Singh Maluka at Maluka village in the Rampura area of the district. Moga: Farm organisations began the tractor march from various locations in the city and culminated it outside the residence of Tota Singh, seeking a rollback of the farm ordinances and the Electricity Act. They said the SAD was a part of the Union Government, therefore, they were equally responsible for bringing these anti-farmer acts and ordinances.

The farmers rejected the assurances of the Union Government that the MSP of crops would not be abolished. They alleged that Sukhbir Badal was misleading the farmers to save his wife’s berth in the Union Cabinet.

Muktsar: As the police had sealed all entry points to Badal village, the farmers could not reach Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s residence to lodge their protest. Later, they handed over a memorandum to a delegation of SAD leaders, which had gone to meet them at Kheowali village.

Patiala: The farmers opposed the Electricity Act brought by the Centre and demanded a rollback of the fuel price hike, besides opposing the three farm ordinances. In a release, the protesters said the ordinances were aimed at handing over procurement of crops to corporates.

Mandi Ahmedgarh: Office-bearers and activists of 13 outfits held dharnas and rallies in the town. At some places, the protesters cared two hoots for the orders banning gathering of more than five persons. Kisan Morcha president Bikramjit Singh Cheema received memoranda and charters of demands from various places in the region.

Sangrur: A tractor march was organised in the city as well. Bhupinder Longowal, state committee member of Kirti Kisan Union, led the protest.