Farmers smash barricades, protest outside Punjab FM Manpreet Badal’s house

Muktsar, October 9

After the district administration backtracked from its Friday’s promise of organising a meeting of farmers with the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister in Chandigarh on Saturday, a large number of protesters today broke police barricades and reached outside Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal’s residence at Badal village.

Though a heavy police force was deployed and anti-riots vehicle stationed, the farmers hardly had to face any resistance. They even started an indefinite protest outside Manpreet’s residence by pitching a tent on the road and blocking both entrances. “The Deputy Commissioner late last evening informed us that the meeting can’t be held till October 13 because of the busy schedule of the Chief Minister. Irate over this, we today marched ahead and reached again outside the residence of Manpreet,” said Jhanda Singh Jethuke, senior vice-president, BKU (Ekta Ugrahan). Om Parkash, SDM, Gidderbaha, who also holds the additional charge of Malout, said, “Now, a three-member committee will hold a meeting with the farmers on October 13 in Chandigarh. The farmers were informed last evening. During this period, the officials will assess the damage to cotton crop.” — TNS

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