Farmer stir: Leaders to decide on next course of agitation today

Will the protesting farmers continue with their sit-in protest in Sector 34 or not? The decision on this is likely to come on September 5, as top farmer leaders from Punjab are expected to hold a meeting at the protesting site, starting 11 am.

Observing their five-day protest, the farmer unions had reached Chandigarh on September 1 evening and held a massive show of strength the next day. The members of farmers’ union also held a foot-march to Matka Chowk and handed over a letter of their demands to Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian.

Thereafter, the farmers started a sit-in protest at the Sector 34 ground under tight security of the Punjab Police, Chandigarh Police and reserved forces. Initially, the protest was expected to end on September 5, but the farmer unions have decided to call a meeting to announce the further course of action.

Sources claimed that the protesting unions may continue the ongoing sit-in protest till Haryana Assembly elections gets over. However, the leaders are keeping the future plans close to their chest. “The sit-in protest is likely to be continued. However, no final decision has been taken. The farmers sitting at the protest site will be addressed tomorrow. They have already come prepared for a long stay, if needed,” said a Punjab leader closely monitoring the protest site.

“The union representatives will be reaching here on September 5 and the final decision will be taken afterwards. We are ready to agree with whatever call the leaders will make. We have no objection in continuing our sit-in protest in the coming months,” said a protesting farmer.

Meanwhile, the fourth day of the protest remained peaceful, but commuters continued to face problems. A portion of the road leading to the protest site was closed to traffic, even as traffic remained disrupted throughout the day as the parking lots of the nearby offices also witnessed rush of protesters’ vehicles.

After the rain lashed the city, the protesting farmers took shelter in their tractors and trailers. At 10.55 am, an ambulance was called as one of the protesting farmer having a medical history fainted. He was rushed to a nearby hospital.