Unions flay ‘indifferent’ attitude of govt towards farmers

Various farmer unions under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Monday staged dharnas in front of residences and offices of Cabinet ministers of Punjab and Aam Aadmi Party MLAs in Ludhiana district.

As per information, farmers protested outside the office of minister Hardeep Singh Mundian at Kohara and outside the residence of minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond in Khanna. While protests were held outside residences of all MLAs in the district.

SKM leaders alleged that the AAP government was showing indifferent, uncaring and apathetic attitude towards farmers, which they felt needs to be condemned at all levels.

“It is a sheer murder of ‘just voices’ and ‘due rights’. The attempt of the government in thwarting the March 5 protest and detaining the farmers is condemnable and we shall continue to protest till the Punjab Government relents and gives us our right due,” said a farm leader, Harinder Singh Lakhowal.

He said the farmers were collectively demanding implementation of the state’s agricultural policy, purchase of six crops at MSP by the state government, a legal framework for debt relief, ownership rights to land tillers and payment of sugarcane arrears.

The agitation started at 11 am and ended at 3 pm.

The protesters said: “No power on earth can deter us from achieving our ultimate objective. We have seen and experienced the worst, including shameless manhandling, inhuman treatment, insensitive regime, deaths of near and dear ones, inclement weather, Covid pandemic and what not. It has made us rather more determined and we can now fight with zeal and vigour.”

“What we want at this stage is the support of the public since it is no more a fight of the farmers alone. It is only with such agitations that agriculture can be saved and the forces undermining democracy in the country be eradicated. Despite our repeated appeals, the state government has refused to lend an ear, thus blaming the Centre, in turn, for not implementing the farmers’ demands,” they said.

Farmers of several villages participated in the protest.

“On March 15, the SKM will meet at Chandigarh to plan the next course of action. No government, whether at the state or Centre can stop us from fighting for our rights. Moreover, we will continue to protest and take the agitation to a decisive stage where the government will be forced to relent and bow before our demands,” Lakhowal said.

Meanwhile, farmers of the region falling under Ahmedgarh, Raikot, Payal and Gill subdivisions also protested outside premises of Aam Aadmi Party legislators.