Day 2: Farmers block Delhi-Amritsar NH

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 15

Around 15,000-20,000 farmers of 11 different farm unions on Tuesday blocked the Delhi-Amritsar National Highway for over two hours here. Demanding immediate withdrawal of the three agricultural ordinances introduced by the Central Government, they assembled on the national highway in Phagwara. Vehicular traffic remained suspended till the protest was lifted. A large number of policemen were deployed on the road. They diverted the traffic.

Farmers from the Doaba region had arrived on the highway at 12 noon and concluded the protest around 3 pm. Worried over the possibility of discontinuation of the minimum support price (MSP) system, farmers, farm labourers, including women, under the Doaba Kisan Union, Bharatiya Doaba Kisan Union, Bharatiya Kisan Union, Kadiyan, Dandewal, Janduri Kisan Union and other farm outfits raised anti-government slogans and expressed their resentment against the ordinances passed by the Modi government concerning the agriculture sector.

The farmers demanded the rollback of the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.

Apparently, the passing of a resolution to reject these ordinances in the Punjab Assembly on August 28 and Capt Amarinder Singh declaring the ordinances against the interests of the farmers, landless workers and the state agriculture marketing system only added fuel to the farmers’ anger.

The protesters threatened that if the ordinances were passed in Parliament, they would launch “Delhi Chalo” campaign. Manjit Singh, president, Doaba Kisan Union, said the government had forced them to hit the roads. “The government is trying to destroy the agriculture sector which is already plagued by anti-farmer policies. If the ordinances are passed, we would also ban the entry of local ministers to our villages and would boycott the elections.”

Similarly, another member of the union, said they would also oppose the Electricity (Amendment) Bill as it would adversely hit free power to farmers.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.