Radical Sikh organisation Dal Khalsa and seminary Damdami Taksal have extended their support to the farmers’ bandh call on September 25. Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh said, “The people of Punjab, including the political parties, should join hands for the cause. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) should snap its ties with the BJP to show solidarity with farmers.”
The Punjab Youth Congress is organising a statewide ‘8 Vaje 8 Minute Mashal March’ today in support of the Punjab bandh call of farmers. State unit chief Brinder Singh Dhillon said that members will perform duties during the dharnas be it serving water, food or other things needed at the spot.
Meanwhile, police has imposed Section 144 of the CRPC prohibiting the carrying of firearms, inflammable items and sharp-edged weapons in the Amritsar city till September 27.
Acting magistrate-cum-deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Jagmohan Singh said the decision was taken in the wake of farmer and labour organisations planning a rail blockade from September 24 to 26, besides giving a bandh call on September 25.
The proposed three-day Rail Roko agitation of 30 farmers' organizations against the agriculture ordinances brought by the Center started from morning. In view of the agitation of the Kisan Union, the Railways has suspended train services in Punjab from September 24 to 26.
From September 24 to 26, no passenger or parcel train will leave for Punjab. Trains will be terminated at Ambala Cantt, Saharanpur and Delhi stations. Meanwhile, Ambala-Ludhiana and Ambala-Chandigarh railways will remain closed. Hari Mohan, Senior DCM, Ambala Railway, said that 34 trains would be short-terminated, diverted and diverted in three days.
There are 26 passenger trains and 8 parcel trains. After the bandh was supported by private transporters, arthi organizations, market associations and farmers from other states including Haryana and UP, the farmers' organizations of the state have geared up to intensify the struggle at every district and block level.
There, Harmeet Singh Qadian, President, Qadian said that all the railway tracks in Punjab would be closed indefinitely from October 1 to repeal the Agriculture Bill. Farmers will not allow any train to cross the track. In view of the announcement of Rail Roko Andolan on the 24th, the state government has issued orders to the DCs of all the districts to provide concrete security.
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The state government has ordered that the peaceful protesters be treated with leniency. In the meantime, special care should be taken that no one carries a special weapon. Emergency services in the state including milk and medical should not be affected under any circumstances. Special arrangements should be made for the operation of the ambulance so that no one is killed without any reason.
He said that those who were obstructing the regular movement of people should also be stopped. Arrangements should be made so that the protesters do not harass anyone without any reason. In view of the Punjab Bandh call on the 25th, the government has also ordered that the roadways can close their routes if they wish to avoid any loss.
"When the farmers block the track, Punjab's power supply may be cut off in a week, as most of the thermal plants have only coal for a week and if the supply is not forthcoming, they are doomed," Bhartiya Kisan Union (Qadian) claims. Our protest will continue till the agriculture bills are repealed.
Following are the routes which you should avoid:
1. Don't travel by road, main highways will be closed.
2. Don't go to Ramamandi and PAP side.
3. Amritsar Highway will be completely blocked.
4. The Akali Dal is supporting this bandh.
5. No one will be lathicharged. This announcement is not from the Punjab government but from the farmers.
6. Shopping complexes in Jalandhar may also remain closed.
7. The link road will be closed
8. The road from Patiala to Khanna will also remain closed
9. Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur road will remain blocked.
10. Jalandhar-Amritsar road will remain blocked.
11. Jalandhar-Ludhiana highway will remain closed.
12. Rajpura Road will remain closed.
Following are the Three bills which created Chaos in India
1. The Farmers' Produce Trade & Commerce(Promotion and Facilitation) Bill,2020
2. The Essential commodities(Amendment)Bill,2020
3. Farmers(Empowerment & Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance & Farm Service Bill
The key provisions of the proposed Bills
1. To help small and marginal farmers (86% of total farmers) who don't have means to either bargain for their produce to get a better price.
2. It allows farmers to sell their produce outside APMC (Agricultural Produce & Livestock Market Committee)Mandis to whoever they want.
3. It also encourage intra-state trade and this proposes to reduce the cost of transportation.
Why are Farmers Protesting?
1.The old system might not favour a majority of farmers who could stand to gain by more choices the new legislations proppose.
2.Will impact influential ‘commission agents’ (known as ‘arhatiyas’ in Punjab and Haryana) in ‘mandis’ who don’t want their grip over farmers to weaken.
3.The state governments of Punjab and Haryana will be affected most because of loss ‘Mandi Tax’, a good source of revenue.
4. Risk of losing out land rights under contract farming rule,
5. Reduction in price of farm produce due to market domination by big agri-businesses
6.Exploitation of farmers by big contractors through contract farming provisions