Farm union gears up for Delhi march amid second pandemic wave
AMRITSAR : Even as the Punjab government has ordered stringent restrictions in the state in the wake of the second Covid-19 wave, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) is organising meetings in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts to mobilise support for marches to the national capital to intensify their protest against the Centre’s contentious agriculture laws.
Two large processions of tractor-trailers are scheduled to leave for Delhi from Beas town of Amritsar district and Harike Pattan village of Tarn Taran district on May 5 and May 20.
On Monday, the committee leaders held meetings with farmers of various villages of Amritsar Kathunangal block.
“We admit that there is coronavirus, but an exaggerated scare is being created around it. As per the government figures, the death rate of the virus is 1.11% which is very low. The death rate of tuberculosis is 7%,” said Sarwan Pandher, general secretary of KMSC, which has a considerable base in Majha.
“The repeal of the three laws is more important for the farmers. These laws are a direct attack on our livelihoods. People may survive the coronavirus but how will the farmers be saved from the three laws. Our fight against the anti-farmer laws will continue as it is a do-or-die battle for us. We will move in thousands to Delhi,” he added.
KMSC’S Tarn Taran chief Sukhwinder Singh Sabhran on Monday held a meeting of farmers of villages in Tarn Taran’s Bhikhiwind sub-division.
“We will take more than 500 tractors from Tarn Taran alone on May 20. Where was the coronavirus when huge rallies were organised by the BJP and other political parties in the electionbound states? ” Sabhran questioned.
Amritsar senior superintendent of police (rural) Dhruv Dahiya said, “Nobody will be allowed to flout the rules.