Punjab: Demonstration of farmers, preparations to make Mohali-Chandigarh border a Singhu border, put up a firm front, if the demands are not accepted, then today CM’s residence marched
The farmers of Punjab under the banner of United Kisan Morcha, adamant on many demands, put up a firm front on the Mohali-Chandigarh border on Tuesday. Like the Singhu border of Delhi, farmers have reached Mohali’s YPS Chowk on tractor-trolleys carrying all the logistics and langar items. He warned that if their demands were not met by Wednesday morning, they would march towards the Chief Minister’s residence in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Whether you have to use sticks or break the barricade. Meanwhile, farmer leaders could not hold a meeting with the Chief Minister on Tuesday afternoon and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also left for Delhi in the afternoon, where he met Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal.
Seeing the displeasure of the farmers, the Punjab government called the farmer leaders for a meeting at 11 am, but the farmer leaders were adamant that the Chief Minister himself should attend the meeting or any competent minister or officer, who could solve the demands of the farmers. The meeting could not take place due to various conditions.
The farmers marched towards Chandigarh after Ardas at three o’clock in the afternoon. To stop them, the police barricaded two places and stopped them by standing tippers on the roads. The farmers first broke a barricade of the Mohali police, but due to not being able to move forward, they put up a firm front there. On this occasion, Lakhwinder Singh alias Lakha Sidhana, accused of Red Fort violence, Baba Labh Singh, who fought against the agricultural laws at Matka Chowk in Chandigarh, were also present with the farmers.
Main demands of farmers
500 per quintal bonus if wheat yield is low.
Uninterrupted power supply in entire Punjab from June 10 for sowing of paddy.
Procurement notification should be issued on MSP of Moong, Maize and Basmati.
Make the MSP of Basmati Rs.4500.
Farmers occupied by panchayat lands should not be removed.
Warrants and attachments on loans by co-operative banks and other institutions should be stopped.
Farmers’ loans up to Rs 2 lakh should be waived.
State government’s efforts failed
The Punjab government tried a lot to persuade the farmers but all its efforts failed. At 11 am on Tuesday, the Mohali administration arranged a bus for the purpose of bringing the farmer leaders to Chandigarh for the meeting, but the farmer leaders remained adamant on the meeting with the Chief Minister. In the afternoon, the administration again tried to convince the farmers to give up their intention of traveling to Chandigarh. Senior officials of the government also reached the protest site till 2.30 pm to collect the demand letter, but the farmers did not agree.
Farmer leaders warn, do not create a situation of confrontation
Farmer leaders Harjinder Singh Lakhowal, Jagjit Singh and Baldev Singh Sirsa said that the administration and the government should not think that farmers cannot break barricades. He said that the farmers have come here to protest peacefully. He warned that the government should not create any kind of conflict.
Will not be allowed to enter chandigarh
Chandigarh Police has made it clear that farmers will not be allowed to enter Chandigarh. Police officials say that no one will be allowed to enter Chandigarh. Police force of Chandigarh has been deployed in large numbers on the border and the border of Mohali has been sealed.
