Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab farmer groups extend, intensify protests

Bathinda/Patiala: With the three agri-marketing bills set to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha after being passed by the Lower House, farmer organisations in Punjab have decided to intensify protests to build pressure on the Modi government. BKU Ekta Ugrahan on Friday extended parallel protests at former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal’s native village, Badal, and chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s hometown, Patiala, till September 25. Initially, the protests were planned till September 20, but the organisation extended these by another five days. The group described Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s resignation from the Cabinet as insufficient and asked SAD to withdraw support from the Modi government. Kisan Mazdoor Committee, which has presence in Majha, has given a call for disrupting rail traffic from September 24 to 26, even though train movement is already low due to Covid restrictions. Ten farm organisations, under All-India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), have given a call for a Punjab bandh on September 25. BKU Lakhowal and BKU Rajewal too have decided to intensify the protest. BKU Ugrahan general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri described the bills as an attack by the Union government on farming community. "We will have to be strong and have the urge to make sacrifices to resist this attack,” he said. BKU Dakonda general secretary Jagmohan Singh said they had already given a call for Punjab bandh and decided to reach out every small village to mobilise farmers against the bills. BKU Lakhowal general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal said Union government had intentionally tried to crush farmers. “We are in talks with Bhartiya Kisan Union at the national level,” he said. Farmers have also been protesting at PUDA ground in Patiala district and a large number of women, including students of various colleges and universities have been actively participating in the protest. On Friday, Jaswant Kaur, a school teacher as well as wife and daughter of farmers, addressed a gathering in Patiala. Similarly, Kamaljit Kaur of Mehal Kalan village addressed protesters and said it was a do-or-die battle for farmers, who are fighting for their rights and survival. Karnail Singh Lang, BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) Patiala president said, “A large number of young girls are participating in the protest. These girls are students in various colleges and in Punjabi University but they decided to join the protest on their own as they are daughters of farmers. Two women on Friday addressed the gathering. Our protest is for day and night and will continue till September 25.” BOX: Suicide bid by farmer in Mansa Pritam Singh (60) of Akkawali village in Punjab’s Mansa district tried to commit suicide at the farmer protest in Badal village by consuming a poisonous substance on Friday morning. Police personnel deployed near the protest site took him to civil hospital in the village , from where he was referred to Bathinda. He was disturbed over passing of the three bills in the Lok Sabha and feared the bills would cause immense loss to farmers. He is still in hospital and is out of danger.

The Times of India

2020-09-19

Chandigarh