Angry farmers burn copies of Bills, to fight on

Tribune News Service

Bathinda/Muktsar, Sept 20

More than a dozen farm unions, under the aegis of Kul Hind Kisan Sabha, burnt copies of the farm Bills at several villages in Bathinda district on Sunday.

Dubbing the recently introduced Bills as anti-farmer, the protesting farmers demanded their immediate revocation.

Farm unions staged protests in several villages, including Balhar Mehma, Kothe Budh Singhwale, Jandawala, Ablu, Mohala and Allike, in Goniana block and raised slogans against the Central Government.

Balkaran Singh Brar, state president, Kisan Sabha, said: “By passing the farm Bills, the Central Government has pushed farmers, arhtiyas, labourers, masons of farm implements and other sections dependent on agriculture to the margins. The SAD did not oppose the ordinances earlier, and when the farm Bills were passed, it just withdrew from the Union Cabinet, not the alliance.”

“The Congress, too, has failed to protect the farming community’s interest in the state for which we will have to bear the brunt in future. The farmers are now left with no alternative but to launch a full-fledged agitation. Farm unions across the country have been joining hands in the struggle and opposing the Bills, which would give the reins of the agriculture sector to corporate houses.

In Muktsar, the farmers protesting at Badal village said no politician would be allowed to join their agitation.

Shingara Singh Mann, state secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), who is leading the protesters here, said: “We have got some reports that Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who recently resigned as Union Minister, wants to join our protest. However, neither she nor any other politician would be allowed here.”

The BKU state secretary said the police had increased their vigil and patrolling in the village. “We will now block the railway tracks from September 24 to 26,” he added.