Chandigarh, October 25, 2024: The issue of delayed paddy procurement has reached a boiling point in Punjab, with farmers staging roadblocks across the state today.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., members of the United Kisan Morcha halted traffic on major routes, including the Chandigarh-Ambala Road in Ludhiana’s Kohara Chowk, Abohar’s Anaj Mandi, the Ambala-Chandigarh Highway, and routes in Hoshiarpur, Amritsar Airport Road, Faridkot, Bhador, Barnala, and Jalandhar.
The blockades left travelers stranded, with many seen walking to their destinations amid disrupted transport.
Farmers report mounting frustration over what they describe as inadequate government action on paddy lifting.
“Despite our repeated demands, there has been no improvement in the paddy procurement process,” stated a spokesperson for United Kisan Morcha.
Farmer leader Kashmir Singh added that the central government’s approach has fueled anger among farmers, who are still reeling from the impact of the now-repealed farm laws. “Our crops are left lying in the fields with no arrangements for lifting,” Singh said, hinting at intensified protests if the situation persists.
Farmer leaders have warned that if the government does not expedite the procurement process, they will escalate their protests, signaling the possibility of broader disruptions across the state.
