UNIONS TO BLOCK HIGHWAYS IN PUNJAB TODAY

CHANDIGARH : Opposing the three farm ordinances introduced by the Centre, farmer unions in Punjab announced to hold state-wide protests and block the highways at more than two dozen places on Tuesday.

The places where roads will be blocked include Rayiya, Phagwara, Khanna, Rajpura, Mannawala, Pathankot, Naushera, Tarn Taran, Talwandi Bhai, Bathinda, Barnala, Bhawanigarh, Rajpura, Kharar, Nelon, Balachaur and Dasuya, the farmer unions said.

“It will be a total bandh-like situation on the state roads on Tuesday. We would not let any vehicle move between 11am and to 1 pm. Not only farmers, farm labourers, arhtiyas and others connected with agricultural activities will take part in the protest,” said BS Rajewal, head of a faction of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU).

“The ordinances will hit the mandi system which is best for purchase and procurement of foodgrains. It is also apprehended that the ordinances might bring to end the regime of minimum support price (MSP) and assured procurement?” said HS Lakhowal, who heads another action of BKU.

“The motive behind ordinances is to encourage contract farming. The big corporate houses will buy land from small and marginal farmers who are the backbone of the rural economy. This will result in unemployment in villages,” he said.