Farmers’ Protest Today: A “chakka jam” will be held at key locations in Punjab, including one spot each in Sangrur and Moga districts, as well as Phagwara and Batala.
Farmers in Punjab are staging a one-day protest on Saturday, October 26, targeting the state government with various demands, including the timely procurement of paddy. The protest will involve road blockades across several locations in the state, as reported by PTI.
Protest Locations: Chakka Jam in 4 Key Punjab Spots
The protest will focus on “chakka jam” (road blockades) at four strategic locations: one each in Sangrur, Moga, Phagwara, and Batala. Farmer leader Surjeet Singh Phul indicated that the road blockades may continue indefinitely if their demands are not met.
Why Are Farmers Protesting? Stubble Burning and Paddy Procurement
The one-day protest is primarily driven by frustration over the slow paddy procurement process. According to Surjeet Singh Phul, chairman of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari), farmers are protesting the delayed lifting of paddy crops. Official reports indicate that only 10% of the 11.10 lakh tonnes of paddy that arrived in Punjab’s grain markets since October 1 has been picked up by procurement agencies.
In response, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has urged the central government to assist in resolving the issue. A meeting chaired by Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi, alongside Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, was recently held to address the delay in paddy procurement.
Additionally, farmers are protesting penalties imposed for stubble burning. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait criticized the government for taking action against farmers who burn stubble, pointing out that there is no viable alternative provided for handling stubble without burning it.
Tikait stated, “The government is penalizing farmers for stubble burning, but has not provided a solution for what they should do with it. The protest, for now, is limited to Punjab farmers.”
On October 21, Punjab farmers called for a permanent solution to stubble burning, saying that they are forced to burn stubble due to the lack of options.
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu also criticized the state government, accusing it of failing to support farmers adequately and resorting to filing FIRs against them instead.