To protest against Punjab Government’s alleged “apathy” towards farmers, especially paddy growers, the activists of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday staged statewide dharnas in the grain markets.
Teams of AAP, led by senior leadership, Farmer and labor wing leaders and volunteers visited mandis and demonstrated against the government apathy towards farmers of the State.
AAP State convener, Gurpreet Singh Waraich (Ghuggi) alleged that the State Government is harassing the farmers by delaying the procurement process and not paying the paddy sum. “The embezzlement of `12,000 crores fund by Badal Government meant for procurement of wheat led to the financial crunch in state. Due to this food scam, banks led by State Bank of India stopped lending money to Punjab for further procurement,” he said.
“It feels so bad to know that the government officials and Akali workers are demanding bribe of `100 per quintal from every famer to lift their crop. The farmers of the state are already under debt but the apathy of government is again pushing them to commit suicide,” Ghuggi said.
He said: “Due to the anti-farmers policies of the Centre and state governments, the farmers across the country are in bad financial condition. It is the right time to implement the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission to save the farmers. But Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal discouraging the farmers by saying that agriculture is not a profitable occupation in Punjab now.”
Ghuggi led the protest at Amritsar, while Capt GS Kang led at Baghapurana and Kotkapura, HS Phoolka at Mullanpur, Sukhpal Singh Khaira at Nadala, Aman Arora at Sunam, Prof Baljinder Kaur at Rama Mandi, Harjot Bains at Sahnewal, Karanveer Tiwana at Patiala, Ahbaab Grewal at ludhiana, Jassi Sekhon at Dhuri, Kanwar Sandhu at Kharar, Dr Balbir Singh at Sanaur and Ghanaur and Himmat Singh Shergill at Mohali led the protest.
The protests were also held at Nawanshahr, Balachaur and Banga in Nawanshahr district and Phagwara and Moga.
Charanjit Singh Channi, Brig (retd) Raj Kumar and Harjot Kaur, who will contest from Nawanshahr, Balachaur and Banga assembly segments, respectively, on AAP ticket in the upcoming Punjab assembly polls, led these dharnas.