People's Democracy

LEFT PARTIES AGITATION

Rail Traffic Blocked By Dharnas Across Punjab

DHARNAS were organsed on railway lines across the state of Punjab on the joint call of CPI(M) ,CPI and other Left parties. Our readers would be aware that the farmers have been agitating on the issues on electricity tarrifs, support price for paddy and other issues. It was in this background that the Left parties in the state had called for rail roko agitation. The Sarv Hind Shiromani Akali Dal also supported the agitation and its president, Gurcharan Singh Tohra, also participated in the dharna held at railway line near Rajpura.

The major demands of the farmers were fixing of Rs.700 per quintal as the minimum support price for paddy, compensation to the farmers affected by the drought at the rate of Rs.10,000 per acre and continuation of free electricity.

Lahamber Singh Taggar, president of the AIKS state unit said at a press conference at Chandigarh that this is for the first time since 1967 when the central government has not increased the support price for paddy. This has increased the burden on the farmers as they had to spend more on the produce this time. On the other hand, despite the drought in the state, the state government has failed to provide any kind of drought relief. The farmers had demanded Rs.100 per quintal as drought relief for their crop which had been destroyed.

More than thousand activists blocked trains on the important Delhi- Amritsar rail track at Phillaur and raised slogans against the anti-farmers policies. Amongst the prominent leaders who led and later addressed the protestors were Lahamber Singh Taggar, former MLA Kulwant Singh and Gurmeet Singh. A demonstration was also held at Mallanpur Dhaka.

A militant demonstration, led by CPI(M) district secretary, Chand Singh Chopra, was held at Barnala in Sangrur district. A Dharna was held on the Delhi-Ferozpur railway line at Mansa and prominent among those who addressed the protestors were CPI(M) state secretariat member, Hardev Arshi and Party district secretary, Buta Singh.

Rail traffic was blocked at Malout in Muktsar distrcit due to the rail roko agitation.

CPI(M) state secretary, Balwant Singh, particpated in the dharna near Rajpura. Addressing the agitating farmers he said that the policies of the central government were pauperising the farmers. The farmers are forced to go to Delhi every year like beggars to demand remunerative prices. Charging the central government of acting at the behest of the WTO and big industrialists, he questioned whether it is not the duty of the government to ensure the well being of the masses. He also lambasted the Akali Dal for shedding crocodile tears for farmers and said that it should recall its minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa from the central cabinet or else it shall also face the wrath of the people. He pledged full support to the organisations fighting for the rights of the farmers.