Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers block toll collection, allow vehicles to pass

KATHUNANGAL (AMRITSAR): Agitating farmers on Saturday staged a dharna and parked their tractors at Kathunangal toll plaza and did not allow the staff to collect toll from the passing vehicles. They also disconnected the electronic toll collecting system FASTag. However, the farmers did not disrupt the movement of vehicles, as they were allowed to pass from dedicated lanes on each side of the highway. “We are doing so to attract the attention of the central government and don’t want the common public to face any inconvenience,” said an agitating farmer Kulbir Singh. The dharna was laid on the call given by a conglomeration of 31 farmer organisations demanding to scrap the three agriculture laws, which they claim would play havoc with the farming sector and the farmers. On the occasion, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) also announced to not let any member of Parliament or MLA or other politicians, irrespective of their party affiliations, enter villages if they support the three farm acts. Meanwhile, at Devidaspura near Amritsar, farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee burnt effigies of the governor of Punjab and the President of India to show their resentment against the new agriculture laws. Addressing the gathering, state general secretary of the committee Sarwan Singh Pandher regretted that it is unfortunate that the Centre has not paid heed to their demands so far. Meanwhile, in an attempt to draw benefit of farmers’ anger against the central government, the United States (US)-based Sikh for Justice (SFJ) has attempted to lure the farmers with an award of USD 10,000 for hoisting Khalistan flag at Shambhu toll plaza at Punjab-Haryana border during the rally scheduled for October 4. General counsel of SFJ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, declared a designated terrorist by India, told TOI on Saturday that SFJ has given the call for raising Khalistan flag at the Shambhu border. He said during the rally, Referendum 2020 ambassadors would be registering votes and added that from October 1 to 8, SFJ would collect applications and data from the farmers of Punjab and Haryana to distribute 1 million USD among those who are defaulting in agricultural loan repayments.

The Times of India

2020-10-04

Amritsar