Farmers prepare for long haul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 13

After 31 farmer unions agreed to hold talks with the Centre on Wednesday related to the farm laws, most farmers at the grassroots-level were preparing for a long haul as they felt that the meeting would not address the core issues.

The farmers’ agitation being held at Buttari railway station on Amritsar-Jalandhar route entered the 13th day on Tuesday.

Agitators said farm laws brought by the Centre would exploit farmers by purchasing their produce at lower rates and on the contrary, consumers would be forced to pay more due to monopoly of certain corporate firms.

Farmers complained that at a time when they were demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report, which could have helped augment their income, the Central Government has brought in the draconian farm laws.

Farmers protesting outside the Bharatiya Janata Party MP Shwait Malik’s residence were in no mood to relent.

Meanwhile, the protest at Devi Daspura village has entered the 20th day. Numerous farmers have been protesting at toll plazas on the national highways and at petrol pumps of Reliance.

Farm leaders, including Daljit Singh Dayalpur, Dharminder Singh Qila, Yudhvir Singh Sarja, Baba Mahinder Singh Weinpuin and Ratan Singh Madhar led the protest. Farmers also paid homage to Nazir Singh Saidhpur, a leader of the peasant movement.