Punjab farmers on Sunday escalated their protests by blocking roads and squatting on railway tracks at various locations across the state, protesting the delayed procurement of paddy in the ongoing Kharif marketing season.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha called for a statewide road blockade from 12 to 3 pm, while the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) led a three-hour ‘rail roko’ agitation. Police rerouted traffic to minimize disruptions.
In Ludhiana, roadblocks were set up in areas like Samrala, Kohara, Khanna, and Raikot. Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal criticized the state government, saying that despite promises, paddy procurement remains slow, causing distress to farmers at grain markets.
In Amritsar, protesters blocked the Wallha railway crossing, while Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Parminder Singh Ugrah confirmed the Amritsar-Pathankot rail track was also obstructed. Road blockades were reported in Attari and Ajnala as well.
Farmers in Sangrur halted trains at Sunam railway station, and in Moga, the Ferozepur-Ludhiana highway was blocked near Duneke. Protesters claimed their paddy remains unsold in grain markets.
Rice millers and commission agents joined the farmers, raising issues of insufficient storage space and demanding higher commissions.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann pledged to meet the Union Consumer Affairs Minister on October 14 to address their concerns.
