Bains brothers start cycle rally to highlight agri crisis

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, June 22

To highlight the agrarian crisis, MLA Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains of the Lok Insaaf Party and other activists started a cycle rally — Kisan Bachao, Punjab Bachao Rosh Yatra.

The leaders paid homage at the Golden Temple and also visited Jallianwala Bagh before flagging off the cycle rally. Simrajit Singh Bains said the cycle rally would culminate at Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh on June 25. The rally would pass through different areas of the state to mobilise support and create awareness.

He said to save Punjab, its farmers should be saved. The agriculture and farmers are under threat not only from the corporates, but also from the government, he said.

Criticising the Centre for bringing ordinances on agriculture recently, Bains said: “Agriculture is a state subject and bringing ordinance in such a manner only hints at centralisation of powers.”

He said federal structure of the Constitution was being diluted deliberately, adding that farmers would be the worst affected if the MSP on paddy and rice was scrapped. He said citizens must try to save farmers and agriculture. He also criticised SAD for not protecting the interests of the state. He said SAD had not spoken a word on the dilution of federal structure. He said the government was trying to clear the way for corporatisation of agriculture in the country.