Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers lay siege to Wallmart mall in Zirakpur over sacking of staff

Times News Network Mohali: Farmers protesting against the three farm bills laid siege to the Wallmart-Best Price Mega Mall in Zirakpur on Thursday. Hundreds of them, under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta (Ugrahan) led by Joginder Singh Ugrahan protested against dismissal of employees from the Walmart’s Bathinda unit. They also demanded permanent closure of the Wallmart-Best Price mega mall in Zirakpur. Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president, BKU (Ugrahan), warned that all the best price stores of the company in Punjab would be closed if the employees’ jobs were not restored. He announced that farmers would continue to hold protest dharna till the jobs were not restored by September 30. The company ignored the warning and took action in just two days, accepting the resignations of employees and repatriating them permanently by depositing gratuity and full and final amount in their bank accounts. In the backdrop of the uncertainty caused by the deadlock between the protesting farmers and the Centre, Walmart’s Bathinda unit was closed permanently and its entire wholesale membership cancelled. Protesters alleged that company officials took resignations from employees fraudulently. Joginder Singh Ugrahan said, “The company accepted resignations by flouting the rules and arm twisting the employees. Our organisation is standing shoulder to shoulder with the employees of Wallmart Best Price Mall and will continue their struggle till the jobs of the employees are restored.” Indian Farmers Union Ekta Ugrahan state vice-president Jhanda Singh Jethuke, Manjit Singh Nial, district Patiala president Jaswant Singh were among those who addressed the protesting farmers.

The Times of India

2021-10-01

Chandigarh