1 lakh tractors to hit the road today as farmers step up stir
More than one lakh tractors will march on Punjab roads for nearly three hours on Sunday in protest against the Centre, said farmer leaders as farm bodies gear up for the Republic Day protest.
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) convener Sarwan Singh Pandher said they are expecting a healthy participation of farmers in the protest to be held at over 500 locations from 12 noon to 3 pm.
“We are expecting over five lakh tractors to participate in the protest across the country,” said Pandher.
The tractor march is being held by the KMM, alongside the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Politcal), the two forums protesting against the Centre at Punjab’s border points with Haryana since February last year over their demands, including a minimum support price for crops.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmer unions that had led a year-long stir in 2020-21 against the now-scrapped three central agriculture laws, is holding a similar stir across the country.
The tractor march is being held as the SKM and the protesting farm bodies are involved in unity talks to strengthen the stir and will be meeting on February 12 for their third round of discussions, two days before the protesting farm bodies are set to meet the Centre’s representatives.
Pandher said the protesting farm bodies have decided to dedicate their tractor march to grocery store owners who faced losses due to the growth of e-commerce firms.
Pandher, while quoting a study of the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF), said about 2 lakh grocery shops across the country have closed down in the past one year.
“The January 26 protest aims at showing solidarity with small shopkeepers, traders and businessmen who are being marginalised by corporate entities operating from big shopping malls,” said Pandher.
He said farmers will assemble near the homes of BJP leaders, corporate-owned grain storage facilities, toll plazas and shopping malls as part of their protest. “Our struggle will continue until our demands are met,” Pandher asserted.
SKM urged to advance
February 12 unity talks
Meanwhile, SKM (Non-Political) leader Sukhjit Singh Hardo Jhande has urged the SKM to advance the February 12 unity talks.
“So far, we have received information about it from the media only. We are yet to receive a formal invitation. We have some programmes lined up on February 12. Our protest is going to complete one year on February 12 and we have a rally slated for that day,” he said.
Farmer collapses at Khanauri protest site
A 55-year- old farmer from Muktsar, Bhima Singh, collapsed at the Khanauri protest site and was rushed to a hospital. It is being suspected that the farmer suffered a stroke.
