Farmers in Punjab stage a road blockade in four key locations, protesting delayed paddy procurement and penalties on stubble burning, causing traffic snarls.
Punjab Farmers Stage ‘Chakka Jam’ Protest in Four Key Locations Over Delayed Paddy Procurement and Stubble Burning Penalties, Traffic Disruptions Expected
Farmers in Punjab will see mass protest today, October 26, as the four major protest locations in the state are going to witness a ‘Chakka Jam’. Delayed paddy procurement and stubble burning are some of the other main demands being expressed by the protesting farmers. As reported by PTI news agency, traffic will continue to be affected at parts of Punjab on the day of the protest.
Chairman Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) Punjab, Surjeet Singh Phul declared that the road blockade will begin at 1 PM today, starting at four important locations across the state. “We are staging a road blockade at four important points; the programme starts at 1 PM,” he declared. Sangrur, Moga, Phagwara, and Batala are set to be at the focal points of this protest action. And according to Mr. Phul, this indefinite protest could turn into a movement depending on what happens.
The ‘Chakka Jam’ impacted some key locations.
The four districts will squarely feel the brunt of traffic on their face due to farmer protests. The protest by the farmers will block important highways and road junctions that could pose a direct threat to commutation. As told by Surjeet Singh Phul, this protest will be an utterly peaceful one, though the farmers are ready for extension of the road blockade. At present, farmers seem very discontented with the state government regarding several unresolved issues with the latter.
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Why are farmers protesting today?
The paddy procurement delay is the largest reason behind the protesting farmers. The paddy procurement season starts from October 1, and the inefficiencies have marked the proceedings so far, as only around 10% of the 11.10 lakh tonnes of paddy have arrived at grain markets to be lifted by procurement agencies. This is disappointing for the farmers, as they require timely procurement to sustain.
The Punjab government, headed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has pleaded before the Centre to come to its rescue and help step up the procurement process. In this backdrop, an equally necessary meeting in national capital recently was chaired by Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi, that included Minister of State for Food Ravneet Singh Bittu and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. However, notwithstanding all these discussions, the farmers are not satisfied with all these developments so far and are protesting today.
Stubble Burning: Another Bone of Contention
The other issue that seems to be in the cross-hairs of these protests is actually retribution meted to farmers due to stubble burning. Stubble or parali burning is a free way through which farmers often clear their lands for the sowing of the next crop in Punjab. However, it has been widely slated for contributing to the widespread air pollution that northern India experiences.
The government has imposed strict penalties on farmers when they are found burning stubble, which worsened the situation further. According to farmers, there was nothing left for them to do but burn it down, and the government could not offer much more to them. BKU spokesman Rakesh Tikait said that the government should tell the farmers what they should do with stubble.
Farmers demand proper governmental remedies for the stubble burning, and the fines now heaped upon them are not the solution to the problem now. Currently, the protest is being led by farmers in Punjab, but the problems could spill to other areas if the problems are not addressed properly.
Government Response and Next Steps
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has attacked the state government, particularly the AAP regime in Punjab, for its management of the farmer’s grievances. Mr. Bittu claims that it is not addressing the distress issues of the farming community but is punishing them with FIRs against those stubble burners.
As the ‘Chakka Jam’ continues, everyone looks forward to the government’s reaction to the demands of the farmers. The protest reminds one about the plight of the agricultural community in Punjab and the determination of the farmers at sorting out issues within a set timeline.
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