Farmer unions slam I-T raids on arhtiyas

Bathinda, December 20

Farmer unions and other associations have strongly condemned the raids conducted by the Income Tax Department on arhtiyas in the state amid the farmers’ agitation against the farm laws. They warned of serious consequences if raids continued in the future.

Leaders of different unions said arhtiyas and traders had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with farmers in their movement against the farm laws and the raids were an attempt to divide the farmer and arhtiya unity to sabotage their movement.

Punjab Kisan Union’s state press secretary Balkaran Singh Balli said, “Owing to massive support of people from almost every sector both in the country and overseas, the farmers’ movement against contentious farm laws has gained unprecedented momentum now. This has certainly not gone down well with the Union Government so it has started resorting to tactics to sabotage the movement now.

Conducting raids on premises of arhtiyas at this juncture when they are supporting farmers in the stir, clearly points at pressure tactics of the government. Arhtiyas not only assisted our movement against farm laws financially, but they have travelled to Delhi and participated in the protests. Gurlabh Singh Mahal, a leader of Samvidhan Bachao Manch, said, “ If such raids are not stopped unions will be forced to gherao IT Department officials.” — TNS