Farmers in Punjab block highways over paddy procurement, stubble burning cases

Farmers criticised the state government for not making adequate arrangements for the paddy season, claiming that they are being unfairly targeted for pollution issues.

In Short

• Farmers blame Punjab government for wrongly registering stubble burning cases
• Block highways in Phagwara, Moga, Sangrur, Batala
• Vow to continue protest until solution found

Farmers in Punjab, upset with poor paddy procurement and cases filed against them for stubble burning, blocked highways at four locations across the state on Saturday. Declaring the protest as an indefinite sit-in, the farmers stated they were compelled to take action due to government inaction.

The Amritsar-Delhi highway witnessed significant disruptions as farmers blocked the national route at Phagwara. Highways in Moga, Sangrur, and Batala were also blocked by various farmers' organisations.

Speaking with India Today TV, farmer leader Sarwan Pandher voiced the plight of Punjab's farmers, highlighting issues with delayed paddy procurement in the mandis.

"The farmers of Punjab are suffering badly. The paddy is not being procured in the mandis and neither is the lifting happening. Not only this, the farmers are also being victimised by registration of cases in the name of stubble burning," Pandhar said.

He further criticised the state government for not making adequate arrangements for the paddy season, stating that farmers are being unfairly targeted for pollution issues.

"Is the farmer the only one responsible for pollution? What about industrial pollution? It is just that farmers are being harassed for no reason," the farmer leader said.

Pandher expressed hope that both the central and state governments would address these concerns, warning that the protests would continue until a solution is found.

"We want a solution and hope that both the Centre and the state will come together to solve the farmers' issues, otherwise, we will continue to sit on the roads," he remarked.

Punjab is facing challenges in paddy procurement, with the state government blaming the Centre for playing politics over the issue and not providing storage facilities. The Centre has criticised the state government for mismanaging the situation.