Farmers Movement Archive

Two states, one issue: Farm bills

PATIALA/BATHINDA: Ratcheting up their protest against the three agricultural bills passed by the Lok Sabha, the farmer bodies in Punjab announced on Saturday that they will burn copies of the bill and effigies of PM Narendra Modi on Sunday and will observe a Punjab bandh on September 25. The farm organisations have also backed a call to disrupt rail traffic for 48 hours from September 24-26. In a significant move, around 30 farm organizations came together in Moga for launching a united and coordinated struggle against the enforcement of the ordinances. It’s after many years that all the farm organisations have joined hands for a common cause —opposing the agri-bills. Farm outfits like BKU Rajewal, BKU Lakhowal have not hesitated in joining hands with BKU Ekta Ugrahan and Dakonda despite their disparate ideologies. BKU Ekta-Dakonda farmer union while extending their support to BKU Ekta-Ugraha farmer union that has been holding day-night protests at PUDA ground in Patiala for last five days urged all sections of people in the state to back the complete shutdown. Buta Singh Burzgill, state president, and Jagmohan Singh Patiala, general secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union-Ekta (Dakonda) said the joint struggle for repeal of the agriculture bills would be intensified and at no cost would these laws be allowed to be enforced. Jagmohan said, "We will burn these agriculture bills across Punjab on Sunday when the bill will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The resignation of Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal is seen as a drama played to save the vote bank of Shiromani Akali Dal (B) under the pressure of farmers' unity. Badals should immediately sever ties with the BJP. The central government and the Reserve Bank of India should immediately release the cash credit limit to Punjab for picking up the crop from the mandis for the paddy season." "The unthinkable has been made possible with all the farm organisations joining hands to oppose the agri- bills. The Narendra Modi government going in for these bills prompted the organisations to reach out to each other," said Krantikari Kisan union president Darshan Pal.

The Times of India

2020-09-20

Ludhiana