Punjab farmers continue protest on Day 4, tension in some areas

Tension prevailed in some parts of Punjab as farmers continued their protest for the fourth day and tried to block other farmers and traders from carrying vegetables, fruits and milk to urban areas.

Local traders clashed with protesting farmers in Gidderbaha town in south-west Punjab on Monday as the latter tried to stop the traders from selling agricultural produce.

Police intervened and two farmers were booked.

Reports from other places also said that protesting farmers forced other farmers and traders from carry vegetables and milk to urban areas. This led to tension at some places.

The protesting farmers continued to dump agricultural produce and milk in vegetable markets and on roads to show their protest, while in some villages and towns, they set up temporary stalls to sell the vegetables at throwaway prices.

The farmers are protesting against the policies of the central government towards them.

Reports of protests by farmers were received from several places in agrarian states Punjab and Haryana.

The farmers, under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), started a 10-day protest on Friday in seven states, imposing a blockade on movement of agriculture produce and milk from rural areas to urban centres.

The farmers' organizations are demanding immediate implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report on farming, giving minimum support price to farmers for their produce, waiving loans of farmers and helping farmers to make agriculture cost effective.

--IANS

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