Farmers Movement Archive

No denial to probe, but would gherao I-T officials: Arhtiyas

PATIALA: The arhtiyas (commission agents) in Punjab have got farmers’ support and have decided to gherao the income tax (I-T) officials together, wherever raids are carried against them. However, arhtiyas claimed that they would not refuse further probe by the IT officials, who had carried out raids on their six colleagues in Punjab last week. They alleged the I-T officials had conducted raids to create pressure on them, as arhtiyas had extended support to the farmers’ agitation against three new agriculture laws enacted by the Union government. The arhtiyas said farmer leaders in a recent meeting have assured them of support in the protest against I-T officials by the arhtiya fraternity if further raids are carried out in the state. “Around 10 arhtiyas were served notices and raids were carried out at the premises of six by the I-T officials. There will be no denial from our side to the I-T officials to proceed further, as we have nothing to hide. But these raids are pressure tactics being used on us to suppress the farmers’ agitation by suppressing their supporters from various sections. In the recent meeting, the farmers have extended their support to us and assured us they will be part of gherao of IT officials if they carry out further raids,” the Federation of Arhtiya Association, Punjab president Vijay Kalra said. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokarikalan said, “We will support the arhtiyas as the government wants to suppress the farmer agitation in one or other way.” Already in protest against raids conducted by the tax officials, the arhtiyas have closed the grain markets for four days till Friday and this had impacted the daily wagers and the labourers besides affecting the farmers. Punjab Arhtiya Association president Ravinder Singh Cheema said, “The grain markets have been shut down for four days till Friday due to which farmers and labourers are affected. There are around eight lakh labourers across the state working in the grain markets directly and indirectly. With the closure of mandis, the farmers are unable to get items or money from arhtiyas and the central government is responsible for this.”

The Times of India

2020-12-25

Ludhiana