Farmers converge in Patiala, allege governments 'failed' in duty against Covid-19

Tribune News Service
Patiala, May 28

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Farmers under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ugrahan on Friday started a three-day protest in Patiala alleging that the central and state governments failed to act against the spread of Covid-19.

Over 1,500 farmers gathered at the PUDA ground near the Tripuri police station. The farmers sat in straight lines ensuring social distancing, wore face masks, carried sanitisers and water bottles.

Leaders of the Union said the state and the central governments, both, have failed in executing their duties in relation to the spread of Covid-19.

General Secretary of BKU Ugrahan, Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan, said, “People are dying but the governments have not been able to ensure availability of ventilators for them. We have proved time and again that farmers in Haryana or elsewhere have not been the reason for the spread of Covid-19. In fact, farmers and their families who came to the protest sites have been saved from Covid-19 because we have been warning them and informing about ensuring safety and social distancing.”

Responding to a question, he said actor Deep Sidhu along with others is responsible for trying to derail the farmers’ protest.

About ‘Mission Fateh’ launched by the Punjab government, he said, “The government had failed in ensuring facilities for people. The centre and state governments want to divert the attention of the people from important questions of the state. They have failed to ensure facilities in relation to the spread of Covid-19 because of which the people are scared of its infection and are not questioning the authorities.”

Manjit Singh Nyal, district Patiala president of BKU Ekta Ugrahan said, “We will continue this protest for three days. We will also ensure that guidelines in relation to Covid-19 are followed. Farmers in far more numbers want to gather but we have decided to keep the gathering to a maximum of 1,500 to 2,000 only.”