Farmers Movement Archive

Protests in Punjab complete four months, continue with ‘renewed resolve’

BATHINDA: Upon completion of four months, the protests against central farm laws are seeing participation from more people across Punjab. Until now, the activists of farm organisations were more involved in mobilising people, but now the village panchayats too are coming forward and are asking every household to send at least one member to the protest sites. It was on October 1, 2020 that the indefinite protests had started in Punjab at railway tracks, at toll plazas, business establishments of some corporate houses and at the residences of some BJP leaders. Though the intensity of the protests in Punjab was far less when the farmers moved to Delhi borders on November 26, these protests continued at many places, especially at the toll plazas causing a loss of over Rs 300 crore in toll, according to the officials of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, had asked the central government a day earlier to find some solution as the protest is causing immense loss to the state. Earlier, Punjab financae minister Manpreet Singh Badal too had said the state is facing huge losses due to farmers’ protests and a workable solution needed to be found at the earliest. The protests are going on at 70-80 places in Punjab, apart from the ones at Delhi borders. “For four months, we have been holding protests under the banner of Sanjha Morcha at Barnala railway station. More farmers are turning up for the protest and with winter coming to an end, we expect the strength of protesters to increase further even though many are also going to Delhi borders. The protests will continue until the government repeals the three contentious laws,” said farm organisation BKU (Ekta Dakonda) leader Balwant Singh. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) Bathinda secretary Mothu Singh Kotda said, “It is 123 days now that farmers are holding protests in the state. Our protest is going on at Lehra Bega toll plaza situated on Bathinda-Chandigarh highway. We are determined to hold protest until the government listens to us.” Farmer Harbans Singh, sitting at Badbar toll plaza in Barnala district, said, government should realise that farmers will not stop protesting, whether it is Delhi or Punjab. “It is better for all us that they should fulfil the demands of farmers sooner by repealing laws or face losses to the economy,” he added.

The Times of India

2021-02-01

Amritsar