- विज्ञापन -
Farmers in Punjab are set to initiate a protest on Saturday, addressing several critical issues affecting the agricultural community. These include the filing of FIRs for stubble burning, delays in paddy procurement, and a 30% reduction in DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertiliser stocks by the state government.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, leader of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, announced that highways in the Majha Malwa-Doaba region will be blocked in response to the FIRs related to stubble burning, the slow pace of paddy procurement, and the DAP issue. Key areas such as Batala, Sangrur, Phagwara, and Megha will experience complete highway blockades.
Emergency services will continue to function on Saturday despite the protest activities. This protest comes on the heels of similar demonstrations held the previous day, where members of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) obstructed roads across Punjab for four hours to voice concerns over inadequate paddy procurement, causing significant traffic disruptions.
Thankfully, reports from the state indicate that the protests remained peaceful, with emergency and essential services such as ambulances and school buses being exempt from the blockades. However, commuters should anticipate further disruptions on Saturday as the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha plans to initiate an indefinite road blockade in various locations, protesting the slow paddy procurement process.
Protesters have expressed their dissatisfaction with the state government’s decision to cut DAP fertiliser stocks by 30% and are demanding a reliable supply of DAP. SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal has criticized both the Punjab government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the BJP-led Central government for the current turmoil, urging them to cease the blame-shifting at the expense of farmers and the state’s economy. Additionally, Charan Singh Noorpura, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) in Ludhiana, remarked that corporate entities are benefiting from open market policies that negatively affect small-scale farmers.
