Cops on toes as farmers plan five-day protest in Patiala

PATIALA: Thousands of farmers are expected to converge on the home town of the Chief Minister for a five-day protest against the Congress government for its “failure” to handle the farm crisis and announce a complete farm debt waiver.

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 17

Thousands of farmers are expected to converge on the home town of the Chief Minister for a five-day protest against the Congress government for its “failure” to handle the farm crisis and announce a complete farm debt waiver.

The state intelligence has alerted all police districts in the Malwa belt. The police have decided not to allow the farm union activists to enter the royal city.

The farmer outfits — BKU (Ekta), BKU (Dakaunda), Kirti Kisan Union, Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Krantikari Kisan Union, BKU (Krantikari) and the Kisan Sangharsh Committee (Azaad) — have decided to camp for five days outside New Moti Bagh Palace, the official residence of Capt Amarinder Singh, from September 22 to 27.

Their leaders are already holding meetings to ensure that maximum farmers reach the venue where the unions plan to erect tents, cook langar and block roads.

A senior police official said DGP (law and order) Hardeep Dhillon had recently visited Patiala and held a meeting with SSPs of various districts to take stock of the situation. “The farmers will not be allowed to enter Patiala and create any law and order situation,” he said.

The unions are disappointed with the state government for not announcing a complete farm debt waiver as was promised before the Assembly elections. “The Amarinder government has failed to fulfil its promise. It should implement a complete debt waiver at the earliest so that farmers stop committing suicide,” union leaders said.

Patiala IG AS Rai said they would not allow the unions to hold such a protest and trouble city residents. “We are mobilising police force from across the state. Besides the state police, the Punjab Armed Police, commandos, IRB battalions and security wing personnel will also be stationed in Patiala starting Tuesday. No one will be allowed to hold any such protest where thousands of farmers converge on the city,” he said.