Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers up in arms against delay in paddy procurement

Tribune News ServiceJalandhar, October 2The Centre’s decision to postpone paddy procurement till October 11 has not gone down well with farmers. On Saturday, hundreds of farmers gheraoed the residence of Cabinet minister Pargat Singh. Later, the agitating farmers shifted the venue to the Circuit House, after learning that Pargat was holding a meeting there. A protest was also held outside the residence of MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary.Balbir Singh Rajewal of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Rajewal) said earlier, we had planned to hold the dharna outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office, however, due to the government holiday today, we shifted the venue. “It is disturbing to see farmers struggling due to unstable policies of the Central Government. While farmers are already agitating against the three contentious agri laws, how can the Centre and the state government afford another unrest,” said Rajewal.The agitating farmers rued that the Central Government was only amplifying the agrarian crisis, by delaying the paddy procurement. The paddy crop has matured in several areas and delay would only damage the standing crop, said the protesters.Unaware of the postponement of paddy procurement, a large number of farmers had started thronging at the grain markets since morning. They later refused to take their crop back.Protesters said the state government has not made any arrangements for them in the mandis. “I have brought the crop in the mandi and if procurement does not starts, I will have to sit at the grain market for 10 days,” said Gurwant Singh, a farmer.Four zones of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee also burnt the effigies of the state government at different places.Salwinder Singh Janian, district chief, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, said an effigy was burnt at Shahkot Dana Mandi due to the delay in procurement of paddy.“Farmers have been protesting for the last 10 months due to poor policies of the Central Government. The state government is also trying to add salt to the wounds of farmers by delaying the procurement of paddy,” he said.

The Tribune

2021-10-03