Farmers Movement Archive

Farmer bodies burn effigies of PM, copies of agri Bills in protest

TNNLudhiana: Members of various farmers’ organisations burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and copies of farm ordinances at several places in the district on Sunday. They also announced a complete strike in Punjab and other states.President of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) Balbir Singh Rajewal said with the protest, they wanted to highlight the anti-farmer policy of the Union government. He alleged the Prime Minister was lying about the legislation and working to hand over everything to corporate houses. Reacting to the passage of the bills in Rajya Sabha on Sunday, the farmer leader said it would be marked as a black day, not only for farmers but for the entry country. He added that despite strong opposition, the BJP has got the bills passed, but they would not allow it to be implemented and were prepared to pay any price for it.Rajewal said members of farmers’ organization burnt effigies of the PM and copies of the ordinances outside Khanna SDM office, Samrala grain market and in Machhiwara. Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary of BKU (Lakhowal), said they protested at 200 places across the state and in Ludhiana district at Kohara Chowk, Samrala, Dehlon, Jagraon, Chowkiman, Mullanpur, Machhiwara and Khanna. The farmer leader said the Union government did great injustice to farmers by passing the bills. He added that they will shut down Punjab and Haryana and have talked to farmers’ organisations in Uttar Pradesh and they would also join them on September 25, when they would not allow any traffic, including on railway tracks and roads, and opening of shops.Lakhowal alleged that the Union government was benefiting corporate houses and handing over farming to them was detrimental as it contributed to the national income. He said they have called a meeting of 31 farmers’ organisations in Moga to decide the future course of action and will announce it on September 25. He added that they were also seeking a legal opinion on the matter and would knock on the court doors for justice.

The Times of India

2020-09-21

Ludhiana