Farmers Movement Archive

Pune's Gultekdi market yard to stay shut today

PUNE: The Gultekdi market yard would remain closed on Thursday in the wake of the daylong protest of the union of porters, mathadis (head loader) and tempo drivers working at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee across the district against the Centre’s farm bills. The Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) authorities of Pune decided to keep the Gultekdi facility shut for a day because of the agitation. The submarkets at Moshi, Khadki, Manjri and Uttamnagar, and other markets across tehsils may function, though. Satish Konde, the deputy secretary of the APMC, Pune, said, “Without the workers, we cannot run the market. Hence, we have advised farmers not to bring their produce to the Gultekdi facility on Thursday. The market will function normally from Friday.” Santosh Nangre, the president of Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard Tempo Chalak Sangathana, and the secretary of Kamgar Sangathna, said, “About 300 workers will participate in the agitation at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue at Pune station. Thereafter, we shall give our memorandum to the district administration peacefully.” He said, “The bills are against us and farmers. The existing APMC markets will close because of these. Over 25,000 workers of these markets would be jobless in months to come.”

The Times of India

2020-11-26

Pune