Will withdraw protest only if Centre revokes Acts: Farmers

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 19

With the farmers’ protest against the three farm-related Acts at the Buttari railway station entering the 19th day here on Monday, the farmer leaders on Monday said that they would withdraw their protest only after the Union Government revokes the three laws.

In response to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s appeal to ease ‘rail roko’ to allow transportation of critical items, the farmer leaders hinted that a decision might be taken after the ongoing assembly session.

“If the state government rejects the three laws in assembly, a decision in this regard might be taken,” said a farmer leader. However, he added that it was too premature to comment decisively on the issue as the matter would be discussed by all farmer organisations.

Speaking on the occasion, many leaders expressed worries about the unequal and disproportionate distribution of wealth in the country saying that the welfare and survival of the masses was at stake with the government supporting corporate houses for political gains.

They said the boycott of BJP leaders because of the party’s unprincipled stand against the farmers’ demand would be further made effective in the coming days.

The farmers agitation received a shot in the arm with local writers, poets, activists and others participating in the protest. Members of the Folklore Research Academy and Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha expressed solidarity with farmers and demanded that all sections of society must rise against the injustices being meted out to farmers and labourers.

Meanwhile, the protest outside the residence of Rajya Sabha member Shwait Malik at Devi Dass Pura village also continued.