Protesters burn effigies of PM Modi, Union ministers

Tribune Reporters

Mandi Ahmedgarh/Bathinda, October 17

Farmers today burnt the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cabinet colleagues in protest against the contentious farm Acts.

Office-bearers and activists of various farmer unions vented their ire at the Central Government by organising funeral processions and burning effigies of the PM and his Cabinet on highways, near toll plazas and petrol pumps.

Several factions of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, All-India Kisan Sabha and Kirti Kisan Union burnt the effigies at Mullanpur, Ahmedgarh, Raikot and Payal towns. Addressing a gathering at Mullanpur, office-bearers of the All-India Kisan Sabha’s Ludhiana unit said the Central Government had rubbed salt on farmers’ wounds by making a mockery of the Delhi meeting. They said the BJP would have to pay a heavy price for this cruel joke on farmers.

“Now when the Punjab Government has expressed its intention to reject the Acts in the Assembly, the Union Government will be forced to rectify its decision by either withdrawing the Acts or making necessary amendments,” said Sikandar Singh Dhillon, an officer-bearer of All-India Kisan Sabha.

Sadhu Singh Panjeta, district president, BKU (Ekta Ugrahan), appreciated that the leaders of all farmer unions were united for a common target and spoke in one voice. Besides blocking rail tracks, protesters have laid siege to toll plazas, fuel pumps, shopping malls of corporate houses and staged sit-ins outside the residences of several BJP leaders in the region.

In Bathinda, farmers owing allegiance to 30 kisan unions carried out a protest march from Multania Road to Hanuman Chowk and burnt effigies of the Union Government to express their resentment over the farm laws. Apart from Bathinda city, protests were held in different blocks of the district and effigies of the Union Government were burnt.

Shingara Singh Mann, president, BKU (Ekta Ugrahan), said: “The joint protest against the controversial farm Acts entered the 17th day today. However, today’s protest was particularly organised against the indifferent approach of the Union Government to reach a consensus and resolve apprehensions of the farming community.”