Farmers under the aegis of Bhartiya Kisan Ekta are holding a protest outside the Longowal Police station of their demand for enactment of a law concerning Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Dilbag Singh Harigarh, a representative of farmers was quoted saying they are suffering losses. “Sixteen farmers Jathebandis (unions) had demanded that the central government release Rs 50,000 crore as a relief fund, our crops are damaged. We had also demanded that the Centre enact the MSP law, in line with Kerala so that we are not looted,” he said.
Reportedly, several farmers were taken into custody in Haryana’s Ambala on Tuesday afternoon, when they were marching towards Chandigarh for the protest to seek compensation for the losses which were caused by the floods. These few farmers were taken into custody and later taken to a police station. This comes a day after when a farmer identified as Pritam Singh of Punjab’s Sangrur district died after being run over by a tractor-trolly during the protest on Monday, while five policemen were injured after growers clashed with police over the “detention” of some farm leaders. Farmers are up against the ante government.
More than 5 thousand cops deployed
Talking about the preparations done by the cops ahead of the Chandigarh Farmers Protest, 4 thousand UT Police personnel were deployed on the border of Chandigarh. One and a half thousand cops of Mohali Police were made to stand on the border. DSP level officer has been given the responsibility to stop the farmers. The situation is tense at the Shambhu border of Ambala. From here the farmers of Punjab and Haryana are going to Chandigarh. No farmer is being allowed to cross from here. Due to this, there is a heavy traffic jam at the Shambhu border. Notably, 16 farmers unions of Punjab & Haryana have joined hands for the Chandigarh Farmers Protest.