Punjab farmers on Friday took to the streets and held protests at 125 sites against the three farm Bills cleared by Parliament, which they dubbed as “black laws”. They blocked roads, including highways, to press the Centre for the withdrawal of the legislations, which are yet to get the President’s approval.
With the farmers squatting on rail tracks, the supply of essential commodities was hit. Shops, commercial establishments and vegetable markets remained shut at several places.
At least 31 farm organisations from Punjab, including the Bharti Kisan Union Krantikari, Kirti Kisan Union, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and BKU (Lakhowal), participated in the nationwide bandh. The Malwa belt comprising Bathinda, Patiala, Ludhiana, Moga, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Barnala, Faridkot, Muktsar and Mansa areas saw thousands of farmers taking part in the dharnas. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress held parallel protests at various places.
Punjab singers, actors back farmers, protest farm Bills
Several Punjabi singers and actors, including Harbhajan Mann, Sidhu Moosewala and Ranjit Bawa, on Friday came out in support of farmers protesting against the agriculture-related Bills passed in Parliament recently.
While Moosewala held a protest in Mansa, Harbhajan Mann and Ranjit Bawa joined the agitation in Nabha.
Harbhajan Mann said they will go to any extent to save farming. He was accompanied by singers and artistes Ranjit Bawa, Tarsem Jassar and Kulwinder Billa. Addressing the gathering, Bawa exhorted farmers to intensify their protest against the farm Bills. He said they are also as upset as farmers. Bawa said the government should have first taken the approval of farmers before drafting the Bills.
Sidhu Moosewala, along with other artistes, held a protest in Mansa district and exhorted the youth to oppose the three bills. Moosewala said only six per cent farmers in the entire country are getting the minimum support price. He demanded that the “anti-farmer” Bills be withdrawn and said that farmers in Punjab will not allow any “injustice”.
Some artists backed farmers on social media. Punjabi actor Guggu Gill on his Facebook page said, “Before an actor, I am a farmer and I also stand with farmers in this campaign. I appeal to the government to reconsider these Bills.
Farmers have expressed apprehension that the Centre’’s farm reforms would pave a way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the “mercy” of big corporates.
RAIL ROKO AGITATION EXTENDED TO SEPT 29
The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee on Friday announced extending its ‘rail roko’ agitation in Punjab against three farm Bills till September 29. The three-day agitation was scheduled to end on September 26.
“We have decided to extend our agitation till September 29. We want the government to resolve the issue of farm Bills,” committee president Satnam Singh Pannu said over the phone. the ‘rail roko’ agitation had started on Thursday, forcing the railway authorities to suspend the operation of special passenger trains in the state.
Railway authorities had earlier said that 14 pairs of special trains would remain suspended between September 24 and September 26. The decision to suspend rail operations had been taken keeping in mind the safety of passengers and protection of railway property from any damage, officials said.