Agitation impact

The effect of the agitation over the farm legislation is being felt acutely in Punjab, with both industry and agriculture getting affected. Industrial production has shrunk badly due to a shortage of raw material because of the obstruction caused to railway traffic by the protesters, while the farmers are staring at unfair competition because of the crop, procured at cheaper rates in other states, being brought for sale in Punjab by the traders. It is an irony that the ‘rail roko’ stir should push industry in the state off track, for when the lockdown had begun, the railways played a critical role in ensuring the supply of essential commodities to ensure a semblance of normalcy. The ‘rail roko’ agitation is familiar to Punjab, with farmers having resorted to it in the past, too, but care is usually taken to ensure that it is only for a fixed duration and that no damage is caused to railway property. With passenger services yet to resume fully, it is only the movement of goods trains that will get affected, thus impacting economic activities adversely.

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The outcome of the special Assembly session called by the Punjab Cabinet remains to be seen. While the state government says it is mulling legislative and legal action, the farmers have been insisting on talking to the Centre to find a way out of the impasse. The priority, both for the government and the farmers for now, especially with the festival season approaching, should be the smooth lifting of paddy crop this season and prepare the fields for the rabi crop.

The Centre needs to take the farmers into confidence and allay their apprehensions over protecting the MSP and the mandi system. The unrest is only increasing as farmers are stopping trucks bringing crops from other states and demanding the registration of cases against those involved in this trade. The agitation also has implications for the law and order situation in the state. All political parties need to come together to find a way out of the imbroglio.