Farmers in Punjab are preparing for a one-day protest on Saturday, October 26, in response to several demands, including the timely procurement of paddy. According to news agency PTI, the farmers will block roads at various locations throughout Punjab as part of their demonstration.
Surjeet Singh Phul, Chairman of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) Punjab, announced, “On October 26, we will stage a road blockade at four key points, kicking off at 1 pm.” The planned “chakka jam” will occur at specific sites in Sangrur and Moga districts, as well as in Phagwara and Batala. The protest will continue indefinitely if necessary.
Reasons Behind the Protest
The primary grievance of the farmers is the slow pace of paddy procurement. Phul highlighted that only 10% of the 11.10 lakh tonnes of paddy that arrived at Punjab grain markets during the first 15 days of the procurement season, which began on October 1, has been collected by procurement agencies, indicating significant delays in processing the abundant paddy crop.
In light of these issues, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has called on the central government for support in acquiring paddy.
A significant meeting addressing the delay in paddy procurement was held in Delhi, chaired by Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi, State Minister for Food Ravneet Singh Bittu, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Also Read: SKM announces ‘Chakka Jam’ over paddy procurement issue across Punjab from Oct 29
Concerns Over Stubble Burning
In addition to the procurement delays, the protest will also address penalties imposed on farmers for stubble burning. Rakesh Tikait, a spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), criticized the government for its actions against farmers. He questioned, “What should they do about stubble?” Tikait noted that in Haryana, farmers who burn stubble face severe consequences, including a two-year ban on selling their produce at mandis. He urged the government to provide viable solutions for managing stubble without resorting to burning.
On October 21, Punjab farmers appealed to the government for a permanent solution to the stubble burning issue, emphasizing that burning is often their only option.
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu criticized the AAP government for failing to support farmers effectively, stating that it has resorted to filing FIRs against them instead.