Ludhiana: On Sunday, farmers in Punjab blocked roads and squatted on rail tracks in protest against the alleged tardy procurement of paddy in the ongoing Kharif marketing season. The decision to launch protest was made during a joint meeting in Chandigarh on Friday, where leaders of various agricultural groups voiced frustration over government policies.
The protest is due to the failure of both the Punjab and central governments to begin crop procurement and paddy lifting, even though the kharif harvest season began on October 1. While the Samyukta Kisan Morcha has given a call for a statewide road blockade from 12 to 3 pm, the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) has also given a call for ‘rail roko’ for three hours.
Police diverted road traffic through alternative routes. In Ludhiana, farmers disrupted road traffic at many places, including Samrala, Kohara, Khanna, Raikot, Doraha, Payal and Jagraon.
Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Parminder Singh Ugrah said farmers have blocked the Amritsar-Pathankot rail track.
Farmers have also held road blockades at places, including Attari, Kukrawal village near Ajnala town.
In Sangrur, farmers squatted on the rail track at the Sunam railway station. In Moga, farmers blocked Ferozepur-Ludhiana national highway near Duneke.
In Sunam, a protesting farmer leader accused the state government of running away from the purchase of the paddy crop.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates