3 min readLudhianaAug 31, 2024 08:32 PM IST
First published on: Aug 31, 2024 at 08:27 PM IST
Hundreds of farmers and labourers, with their tractors/ trolleys, private vehicles and buses, are expected to reach Chandigarh on Sunday to protest the repeated delay in the implementation of an agriculture policy and curbing the drug menace in Punjab, among other issues.
Under the banner of BKU (Ugrahan) and Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union (PKMU), the protestors have been allowed to camp at Sector 34, Dussehra ground.
As per their plan, the farmers are expected to camp in Chandigarh for four days. On September 5, they will hold a meeting and then decide the future course of action — whether to stay in Chandigarh or return to Punjab.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Lachhman Singh Sewewala, general secretary of PKMU, said, “On September 1, we will be gathering at Sector 34 in Chandigarh. On September 2, we shall march to the Vidhan Sabha to submit a memorandum of our demands to the Punjab Chief Minister. We will continue our dharna till September 4 — the day the Vidhan Sabha session concludes. If nothing concrete is heard on our demands in the assembly, we will hold another meeting to decide whether to go back on September 5, or continue our dharna in Chandigarh itself.”
“Let’s see what the Punjab government does, and whether they will allow us to reach our Capital or not? Agriculture is a state subject, and so the government cannot run away from their responsibilities towards the farmers and labourers,” Sewewala added.
UT Senior Superintendent of Police, Kanwardeep Kaur told The Indian Express that permission has been granted for the protest march named, ‘Kheti Niti Morcha’.
BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said, “We had a meeting with the Chandigarh administration on Saturday afternoon. We wanted a place to protest near Sector 17, but they did not agree to it and rather asked us to go to the outskirts of Chandigarh. It was not acceptable to us.”
BKU (Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh said, “A call has been given to farmers, labourers and women leaders to march towards Chandigarh with their families on September 1.”
What the protesting farmers are demanding:
– Implementation of an agriculture policy
– Curbing the drug menace in the state
– Distribution of land to landless labourers and farmers
– Environment protection
– Promotion of chemical-free crop production
Ration being collected from Bathinda villages ahead of 'Chandigarh Chalo' march of BKU (Ugrahan) and PKMU. (Express photo/ Raakhi Jagga) 
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