Growers’ protest chokes city entry, exit points

Demand meeting with CM to resolves issues

LAHORE:

Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) has vowed to continue their protest until their demands were met as hundreds of farmers gathered at Thokar Niaz Beg in the morning and were still sitting there till the filing of the report.

They blocked the road for every kind of traffic causing much nuisance to the commuters. The long queues of the commuters were observed on the highway. The protest also affected the flow of traffic at the motorway.

The City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) and National Highways and Motorways Police (NH&MP) held diversions at three points to divert the traffic. Extra deployment of traffic wardens was made to maintain flow of traffic.

The protesters demanded removing of extra surcharges and taxes on their tube-well and electricity bills, provision of quality fertilizers and sprays at suitable, subsidised rates and raising the price of their crops.

The prices of their crops were cheap while the commodities in the market were made available at higher prices.

The PKI, for the past few years, had been continuously conducting protests in favour of their demands. They called off their protests each time on the government promises of the fulfilment of their demands. However, their demands in each protest even in the recent one remained consistent.

A committee including agriculture secretary, Lahore CCPO, DIG Operations, Lahore DC and others conducted meeting with the leaders of the protestors. However, the negotiations remained unsuccessful.

PKI Central President Chaudhry Anwar told media persons that those visiting them to conduct dialogues on behalf of the government could not solve their issues. He vowed to continue the protest until Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar himself holds a meeting with them.

He said that they would not disengage from the protest until Prime Minister Imran Khan himself assures that their demand would be met. He said they demanded meeting with the CM as he would pave way for meeting with the prime minister.

While explaining their demands and exploitation, he said the wheat was procured from them on Rs1,400 on “gunpoint”. The government should make the availability of the flour to the public at Rs1,400 rate and why the price of the wheat has soured to Rs2,400. He continued that the sugarcane was procured at Rs170 per 40kg from them. Why the government was providing sugar at Rs70 per kg instead of Rs110.

He demanded of the authorities to fix the price of wheat Rs2,000, sugarcane at Rs300 per 40 kg and electricity unit at Rs5.50. He also asked for the provision of quality fertilisers and sprays at subsidised and suitable rates.

Anwar accused that the cotton crop was severely damaged because of poor quality spray.

Anwar said that they were the peaceful protestors and warned against the use of force or creating hurdles in their way by the government.

“Come what may, we will reach our destination and continue their protests until the demands were met. Otherwise, the protest would be turned into a sit-in,” Anwar asserted.

The protesters continued shouting slogans against the government and in favour of their demands. They also made celebrations like traditional dances and folk singing on the occasion.

A heavy contingent of police remained alert at the site of the protest for the security and law and order purposes.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2020.