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Mohali: Security up as farmers’ to march to Raj Bhawan today
The march will start from Gurdwara Sri Amb Sahib in Mohali and pass through the Phase 7 traffic lights and Machhiwara Chowk, Mohali, before entering Chandigarh.
Security has been beefed up in Mohali and Chandigarh as farmers’ organisations, under the banner of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, which includes 32 farm organisations, are set to take out a protest march towards Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh to submit a memorandum of their demands.
The march will start from Gurdwara Sri Amb Sahib in Mohali and pass through the Phase 7 traffic lights and Machhiwara Chowk, Mohali, before entering Chandigarh.
Mohali superintendent of police (traffic) Jagjeet Singh, “The farmers will gather at Amb Sahib Gurudwara at 11am. Then at 2:20pm, they will start their march towards Chandigarh, via Phase 7 traffic lights and Machhiwara Chowk, Mohali. Over 1,000 policemen will be deployed in Mohali to maintain law and order.”
Chandigarh senior superintendent of police (SSP) Kuldeep Singh Chahal also said that adequate arrangements are in place. “A strong police force will be deployed on barriers with Mohali. Traffic diversions would be created at places whenever required,” said SSP Chahal.
What are the farmers’ demands
Farmers are demanding implementation of minimum support price on all crops, compensation to farmers for damaged crops, cancellation of FIRs registered against them for stubble burning, punishment to the accused of Lakhimpur Kheri incident and other long-pending issues.
Jagmohan Singh, general secretary of BKU Dakounda, a farmer organisation taking part in the protest, said, “Thousands of farmers from Barnala, Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Muktsar Sahib, Tarn Taran, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Moga, Ludhiana, Kapurthala and Mohali districts will arrive in Mohali for the protest.”
“Hundreds of farmers have lost their lives during the struggle against the three anti-farmer laws, which were repealed following farmers’ action. The government had given a written assurance to meet our demands and to make a law to guarantee MSP for all crops. But the law for MSP has not yet been made, nor have the false police cases against farmers during the movement been withdrawn,” he added.
