Farmers Movement Archive

Farm laws and not civic issues on voters’ mind

Khanna/Jagraon/Raikot: Ripples of farmers’ agitation were felt on the day of municipal elections in the district. Facing hostility because of farmers’ agitation, the BJP had not entered the fray in Samrala, Raikot and Payal, and fielded candidates in less than half the wards in Jagraon and Doraha. Only in Khanna MC, the party had fielded candidates on most of the seats.“Since Punjab is an agrarian state, everyone is directly or indirectly linked to farming. Farmers protesting against the agri laws in adverse weather at Delhi borders remained in the minds of many voters even though this election is about civic issues,” said 55-year-old Balwant Singh, a voter from Raikot Adda in Jagraon. Many voters said civic issues were important, but farmers’ demands were paramount. “We do want better roads, sewerage system and proper hygiene in our wards, but then farmers are the soul of our state. Their pain was on my mind when I went to vote,” said Navtej Singh from ward 9 in Samrala. For some, civic issues outweighed other matters. “People must vote for better roads, sewerage system and clean surroundings. I don’t think farmers’ stir will have an effect,” said Harsh Kumar, a voter from Khanna. Many voters, who supported protest against farm laws, claimed the BJP didn’t field candidates in many MCs of the district that were predominantly rural or where farmers’ organisations had a strong base, and where they did, the response remained poor.

The Times of India

2021-02-15

Ludhiana