Farmers' protest continues for second day on Mohali-Chandigarh border in Punjab

The farmers launched a three-day protest at the Mohali-Chandigarh border demanding a law on minimum support price. The farmers said that the sit-in continues until the demands are met

Chandigarh: The protest by Farmer Unions seeking a law on minimum support price (MSP) amid other demands continued for the second day on Monday at the Mohali-Chandigarh border. The farmers said that they will continue the sit-in until their demands are met. The farmers, including women, joined the strike saying that they would remain strong until their demands were met.

Meanwhile, the officials said that the security arrangements had been tightened before the demonstration and the routes for the movement of vehicles have been changed. The protest was staged under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). The Samyukta Kisan Morcha is an umbrella body of several farmer unions.

Addressing the media here, farmer leader Harmeet Singh Kadian said Governor Purohit has called them for a meeting on Tuesday. "We will submit the memorandum to the Governor at 11 am on Tuesday," he said. Farmer leaders said the next course of action of the SKM will be decided on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait participated in the protest and said farmers' agitations are going on in the entire country. He stressed giving legal guarantee to the MSP, saying farmers in several states were not getting the assured price for their crops. Tikait said it was a big demand from growers. Citing an example, he said, "In Bihar, farmers get Rs 800 to 1,200 per quintal for paddy. The same situation is with wheat, bajra and maize." Seeking loan waiver, the farmer leader said farmers in the country have Rs 15 lakh crore of debt.

More than 30 Farmers' Bodies, including Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), BKU (Lakhowal), BKU (Dakunda), which are part of the SKM, are participating in the protest, which began on Sunday. Farmers from various parts of Punjab, including Ludhiana, Ferozepur, and Sangrur, gathered on the Mohali-Chandigarh border at Mohali's Phase-11 and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER,) Chowk Road on Sunday and launched a three-day protest. They came in tractor-trolleys, cars and other vehicles with essential items, including ration, utensils and cooking gas cylinders.

Farmers from Haryana, too, gathered in Panchkula where a large police force has been deployed. Farmers have been demanding the withdrawal of cases filed against them during the 2020-21 stir against the now-repealed farm laws, compensation, and jobs for any one of the family members of farmers, who died during the stir, loan waiver, and pension. (With PTI Inputs)

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