Farmers Protest: Good response to shutdown call across Punjab, other states

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—The shutdown call given by the farmer organizations to press the Indian government to roll back the black laws related to the agriculture sector evoked good response in Punjab and other states of Indian union today.

All the shops and commercial outlets remained shut. The roads were blocked by the farmers from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm. The roads, streets and markets wore a deserted look everywhere in Punjab as the people of almost all sections of the society gave their support to the cause of farmers.

The successful shutdown in the union forced the Home Minister of India Amit Shah to call an emergency meeting with the farmer leaders at his residence at 10.00 pm. However, all the leaders who are representing their organizations in the meetings with the Centre over the laws, were not invited. The meeting remained inconclusive otherwise as the Centre is adamant to not withdrawing the laws against the demand of farmers.

Reacting on the bandh, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday said the unity showcased by the farmers through the Bharat Bandh had underscored the need for repeal of the laws, followed by a detailed discussion on agricultural reforms.

The Chief Minister asked why the Centre could not heed the demands of the farmers, agitating across the country, to scrap these laws and hold fresh talks with all stakeholders. “Had I been in their place I would not have taken a minute to accept my mistake and revoke the laws,” he said.

Asserting that the whole country was with the farmers in their pain and in their fight for survival, Captain Amarinder said the Centre should allow the existing system to continue instead of scrapping the Arhtiya and Mandi system, as the Farm Laws were designed to do. “Why are they doing away with it? They should let the farmers decide what they want,” he said, adding that nobody was stopping private players from purchasing but it could not be allowed at the cost of the well-established system which had stood the farmers in good stead all these decades.