Farmers announce road blockade tomorrow

Chandigarh: To protest against alleged delays in the paddy procurement exercise in the state, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Friday announced its decision to disrupt traffic on October 13 (Sunday) from 12 noon to 3 pm. It followed a joint meeting of the farmers with arhtiyas (commission agents) and rice millers.
On Monday, all organisations, including the Beopar Mandal and labour unions, apart from farmers, arhtiyas and rice shellers, would meet to decide the next course of action.“A joint meeting of SKM and Rice Millers’ Association was held as procurement of paddy has not started in the state yet. The state govt is not serious. We have decided to disrupt road transport from 12 pm to 3 pm on October 13,” SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said. He claimed that despite promises of smooth paddy procurement by the Punjab govt, no significant progress could be seen on the ground. He said the road blockade would include major roads and highways across Punjab, halting traffic from 12 noon to 3 pm.
Ravinder Singh Cheema, president of the Punjab Arhtiyas’ Association added that purchase of paddy had come to a halt in grain markets as space was fast running out. “The majority of the rice millers have still not agreed to accept the stocks, which has brought lifting of procured paddy to a halt. It will have an impact on the arthiyas and farmers and that is why a joint meeting was held.”
The joint delegation also met chief secretary KAP Sinha and he assured them that the state govt would try to find a solution to the deadlock in the next two days, said Cheema.