Farmer unions to protest against lockdown in Punjab on May 8

Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border protest site, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal alleged that the government has imposed a lockdown to hide its failure to handle the coronavirus situation and wants to weaken the ongoing farmers'' movement.

Sonipat (Haryana):Farmer unions from Punjab, which have been agitating against the central farm laws, on Wednesday said they will hold street protests against the coronavirus lockdown on May 8 in the state and urged people to defy the restrictions.

Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border protest site, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal alleged the government has imposed a lockdown to hide its failure to handle the coronavirus situation and wants to weaken the ongoing farmers'' movement.

He was speaking on behalf of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions that is spearheading the agitation against the Centre's three agri-marketing law.

"The 32 farmer unions of Punjab have decided to protest against the lockdown on May 8 (in Punjab) where our field workers will come out on streets and ask people to open their shops and not follow the lockdown," Singh said.

Like several other states reeling from the COVID surge, Punjab has imposed extensive curbs, in addition to measures like a weekend lockdown and night curfew till May 15.

"The three black farm laws were also made during the lockdown last year. Lockdown is no solution. It only results in losses to the economy and unemployment. This government is just hiding its failures under the garb of lockdown -- like how they have failed in providing oxygen, beds and other medical facilities to patients," Rajewal claimed.

The 78-year-old leader said that he would also push for a "nationwide protest against lockdown" in the next meeting with the SKM leaders.

Meanwhile, over a thousand farmers on Wednesday headed towards the Delhi borders from Beas, a town near Amritsar, to join those protesting against the farm laws.

Kisan Sangharsh Committee State secretary Gurbachan Singh Chabba said he along with other farmer leaders including Sawan Singh Pandher has set off for the national capital with the group, which includes women and children.

He said farmers assembled at Beas from different villages of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur districts in Punjab.

Thousands of farmers have been camping at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur, demanding the complete repeal of the three farm laws and a legal guarantee for the minimum support price on their crops.

AGENCY INPUTS