Bathinda: The latest farm agitation in Punjab, being observed on the state’s Shambhu and Khanauri borders with Haryana, turned 70 days old on Tuesday, but there were no signs of the farmers backing down or of a solution to issues raised by them. Since Feb 13, when the stir started, farmers’ opposition to central and Punjab govts has also intensified, with activists now protesting against BJP, JJP and AAP candidates in Punjab and Haryana.
For a week now, farmers have blocked the Amritsar-Delhi railway section by sitting on the tracks which go through Shambhu railway station. This has hit the movement of 500 trains in seven days.
For a few days, it seemed BJP’s Punjab leaders and functionaries of SKM (Non Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha — the two groups which are spearheading the stir — would sit down for a debate in Chandigarh, but that did not happen.
The talk of a debate had started after Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar had asked farmers to hold a debate about their demands and made claims that the BJP govt had done a lot in the interest of farmers. Farm unionists Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarvan Singh Pandher said they wanted to expose the falsehoods of BJP during the debate, but no one from the saffron party turned up. “The absence of BJP leaders proves that the central government is not ready to face our questions,” said Dallewal.
Farm leaders Surjit Singh Phul, Guramneet Singh Mangat and Abhimanyu Kohar announced that on May 22, the farm stir will complete 100 days and large gatherings will be organised at both Haryana and Punjab borders.
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