Farmers in Punjab Plan Road Blockades Over Paddy Procurement and Stubble Burning Issues
Farmers in Punjab are continuing their protests against the government, demanding timely paddy procurement and opposing police actions related to stubble burning. The Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (PKMSC) district president, Aranjeet Singh, announced plans for a ‘chakka jam’ or road blockade in several districts, including Sangrur, Bhatinda, Moga, Batala, and Gurdaspur. Singh emphasized the need for both the Punjab and central governments to find a timely solution to avoid inconveniencing the public.
Farmers from Jalandhar are joining the protest in Phagwara, aiming to block the highway. A senior farm leader criticized the focus on stubble burning, arguing that pollution from factories and vehicles is often overlooked. The leader claimed that stubble burning contributes only a small percentage to pollution and accused the government of unfairly targeting farmers.
PKMSC General Secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher highlighted issues with rice stock transparency, criticizing the Punjab government for not addressing the problem. He also pointed out the lack of response from political leaders like Kejriwal on the paddy procurement issue. The roadblocks are planned for Sangrur, Moga, Phagwara, and Batala, with the potential to continue indefinitely if demands are unmet.
Doubts Revealed
Paddy Procurement -: Paddy procurement is the process of buying rice crops from farmers by the government or other agencies. It ensures that farmers get a fair price for their crops.
Stubble Burning -: Stubble burning is when farmers set fire to the leftover stalks of crops after harvesting. It is done to clear the field quickly for the next crop but can cause air pollution.
PKMSC -: PKMSC stands for Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. It is a group that represents farmers and workers in Punjab, helping them voice their concerns and demands.
Aranjeet Singh -: Aranjeet Singh is a leader of the PKMSC, who is helping organize the protests for farmers’ rights in Punjab.
Sangrur, Bhatinda, Moga, Batala, Gurdaspur -: These are cities in the state of Punjab, India, where the farmers are planning to block roads as part of their protest.
Sarwan Singh Pandher -: Sarwan Singh Pandher is another leader of the PKMSC, who is criticizing the Punjab government for not being clear about the rice stocks.
Kejriwal -: Kejriwal refers to Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, who is being criticized for not speaking up about the farmers’ issues.
