Close X
Saturday, November 2, 2024
ADVT 
India

Farmers in Punjab block highways in protest against ‘tardy’ paddy procurement

Darpan News Desk IANS, 25 Oct, 2024 12:40 PM
  • Farmers in Punjab block highways in protest against ‘tardy’ paddy procurement

Chandigarh, Oct 25 (IANS) Activists of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a farmer outfit, on Friday blocked roads across Punjab for four hours to protest the tardy paddy procurement, leading to traffic disruptions and inconvenience to tens of thousands of commuters at many places.

However, there was no report of violence from anywhere in both the state.

Commuters are likely to face more inconvenience on Saturday with Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, led by Sarwan Singh Pandher, announcing a road blockade for an indefinite period at many places to protest against the “tardy” paddy procurement.

The protesters criticised the state government’s decision to reduce DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertiliser stocks by 30 per cent. They demanded a steady supply of DAP.

SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal blamed both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of Punjab and the BJP-led central government for the mess.

He said they should not play the blame game at the cost of farmers and the economy of the state.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) Ludhiana district president Charan Singh Noorpura said corporate entities are taking advantage of open market policies that undercut small-scale farmers.

Protesting farmers belonging to different outfits started assembling along the highways, mainly in front of the toll plazas in both states, well before the blockade came into effect at 11 a.m.

The farmers put up road blockades on national and state highways at many places in Patiala, Dera Bassi, Barnala, Moga, Ludhiana, Phagwara and Amritsar as part of a 'chakka jam' protest, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Emergency and essential services like ambulances and school buses were exempted from the blockade, said protesters.

Heavy police presence was seen at various places to maintain law and order in view of the protest by the farmers. As a precaution, the police have diverted traffic at many places.

Farmer leader Pandher said the “chakka jam” on Saturday would be held at one place each in Sangrur and Moga districts and at Phagwara in Kapurthala district and Batala in Gurdaspur district.

MORE India ARTICLES

Amritsar gears up for hospitality of G20 delegates

Amritsar gears up for hospitality of G20 delegates
The two sessions of G20 are slated to be held in the state on March 15-17 and March 19-20. The first one is the second G20 Education Working Group Meeting, while the second is a two-day Labour 20 (L20) meeting.

Amritsar gears up for hospitality of G20 delegates

'Not slow paced', SC on trial in Lakhimpur Kheri violence case

'Not slow paced', SC on trial in Lakhimpur Kheri violence case
On January 25, the Supreme Court granted interim bail for eight weeks to Ashish Mishra and directed him to leave Uttar Pradesh within one week of his release from jail. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and J.K. Maheshwari directed the sessions judge dealing with the trial of the case to keep apprising it about the future developments of the trial.

'Not slow paced', SC on trial in Lakhimpur Kheri violence case

Sukhbir Badal slams AAP govt for slashing Punjabi University's grant

Sukhbir Badal slams AAP govt for slashing Punjabi University's grant
Badal was reacting to media reports, which quoted the Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor as saying that the varsity is facing a "dark future" and demanded that the budgetary grant should be over Rs 300 crore. "The university is already under a debt of Rs 150 crore and is not in a position to pay salaries on time," Vice-Chancellor Professor Arvind has said.

Sukhbir Badal slams AAP govt for slashing Punjabi University's grant

SAD-BSP to undertake joint Punjab Bachao campaign

SAD-BSP to undertake joint Punjab Bachao campaign
Announcing this here, SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said a decision to this effect had been taken under the leadership of party President Sukhbir Badal following a meeting with constituency in-charges and senior BSP leadership.

SAD-BSP to undertake joint Punjab Bachao campaign

'Sisodia was part of money laundering nexus', says ED after getting his custody till March 17

'Sisodia was part of money laundering nexus', says ED after getting his custody till March 17
Earlier in the day, the court deferred hearing in Sisodia's bail application for March 21, in the same case being probed by the CBI. Special CBI Judge M.K. Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Courts has ordered Sisodia to be produced before court on March 17 at 2 p.m.

'Sisodia was part of money laundering nexus', says ED after getting his custody till March 17

BSF shoots down drone in Punjab, recovers AK series rifle

BSF shoots down drone in Punjab, recovers AK series rifle
The Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday recovered an AK series rifle along with two magazines and 40 rounds of ammunition from a field in Gurdaspur sector after shooting down a drone. During the search, BSF troops found a hexacopter along with the weapon and ammunition.

BSF shoots down drone in Punjab, recovers AK series rifle