Rakesh Tikait: Chandigarh is the perfect place for protests

Chandigarh: The beauty of Chandigarh is captivating and even noted farmer leader Rakesh Tikait could not stop himself from praising the greenery, wide roads and clear view of the Himalayas. “We don’t even need tents here, there are such long rows of trees to protect us from the scorching heat. All you have to do is sit without any basic arrangements,” Tikait said while addressing the farmers near Matka Chowk. “This is a great place to protest and enjoy nature. Now that we have come to Chandigarh, let us ensure our presence here more often. After the protest, you can actually go to nearby hill stations,” he added. Last year, the farmer leader had come here in support of local street vendors who were protesting outside the Sector 17 municipal corporation office. “I extend my support to the protest. We are raising genuine demands and the Punjab government should pay heed to it.

The five-day protest is just a trailer, as the unions have shown that no city or place is beyond their reach to wake up the authorities. Farmers are contributing to the nation and they have every right to raise their demands in a peaceful manner,” Tikait said, supporting a law guaranteeing MSP. “The demands are for a new agriculture policy. The Punjab government should talk to farmers and their leaders and formulate a policy. We can give suggestions. There are several issues, including one related to depletion of groundwater,” he said. Supporting the ‘Kheti Niti Morcha’ (on agriculture policy), various organisations, including contract workers unions and a section of the Democratic Teachers Front, participated in the protest. Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union general secretary Lachhman Singh Sewewala demanded promotion of chemical-free crops, compensation to families of farmers who committed suicide, and measures to address the drug problem in the state.

Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan was also leading the protest and demanded a fair hearing and solution from the Punjab government. Ugrahan said that his organisation’s programmes will continue and the next course of action will be decided on September 5. He targeted the AAP government and claimed that there is no difference between the policies of the Bhagwant Mann government and those of his predecessors. He said, ‘The central government had claimed that the construction of major highways (especially the Amritsar-Katra highway) would lead to development, but it was actually going to be for the corporates. These roads are not for us but for the convenience of corporate houses so that they can sell their produce and buy goods from here easily. Earlier the British had laid the rail network so that they could bring their goods and sell them at the desired prices. However, they misled the general public by making them believe that this network was for their welfare.” Ugrahan claimed, ‘Farmers are protesting against the alleged delay in the implementation of the agricultural policy. The Punjab government has not taken any meaningful step on this.” Agitation to continue While several unions returned on Monday evening, other farmer organisations will continue to stay put at the Sector 34 protest site. Several leaders are expected to reach the city in the coming days to address the protesters. The traffic diversions are likely to continue for the next few days.