Farmer’s Protest LIVE Update: Punjab farmers take stage to sit in Kishan Ghat against India-US trade deal | Today’s news
Farmer’s Protest LIVE Update: Farmers from Punjab are scheduled to demonstrate at Kishan Ghat today against the proposed India-US trade deal. A large number of farmers from Patiala reached the Shambhu border on Tuesday morning for a mega ‘mahapanchayat’ rally called by the Desh Bachao Morcha.
Why are the farmers marching on the capital?
Farmers from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha are also expected to join the agitation. Several farmers’ organizations, including members of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, BKU Ekta Sangharsh and Azaad Kisan Morcha, will participate in the protest.
According to the protesting farmers, cheaper agricultural imports to India under the India-US trade deal would adversely affect farmers, agricultural labourers, livestock keepers, small traders and the country’s agricultural economy. Farmers are seeking the withdrawal of the proposed trade pact to protect the interests of farmers and common people.
Dozens of farmers gathered in Beas a day before the planned protest. The convoy assembled at Fatehgarh Sahib-Sirhind for the night and proceeded to Delhi via the Shambhu border. According to media reports, about 550 farmers’ unions and social organizations from across the country will participate in the demonstration.
Police have tightened security checks at the Shambhu border
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni, who was on his way to the capital for a mega rally, was detained by the Haryana Police at Kurukshetra. According to the unit’s spokesperson, Prince Waraich, Charuni’s vehicle was intercepted by the police on National Highway-152D near Pehowa, PTI reported. The incident unleashed farmers who gathered at the toll plaza on the Hisar-Chandigarh stretch of the national highway in Thana village and started a sit-in.
The Haryana Police detained some BKU (Charuni) members in Ambala after they blocked the toll plaza and tightened security at the Shambhu border crossing between Haryana and Punjab.
All Farmer’s Protest LIVE updates can be found here
