Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) has announced state-wide protests against the BJP-led Central Government at district headquarters across the state on Friday, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. KMM, which represents the farmers in the state, also demanded the constitution of a public commission to probe the killings and disappearances of innocent Hindus and Sikhs during the peak militancy period in the 1980s and 1990s.
Its leader, Sarwan Singh Pandher, released a video message saying the decision to hold protests by burning effigies of the BJP government was taken at a meeting of the Morcha in Ludhiana on Thursday. Prime Minister Modi is visiting Chandigarh and Jalandhar today, where he is expected to launch several projects worth crores.
Pandher said the railway projects that PM Modi is inaugurating today are another step towards privatisation of the railways and that the farmer body completely opposes the move.
In his message, Pandher said, "The inauguration of the Jalandhar railway station today marks the official beginning of his privatisation policy. Under the move, railway stations will be handed over to big corporate houses."
"I would like to remind everyone, including those who are employed in the railways, especially Hindu brothers, since the majority of employees in the railways are Hindus who are on the verge of losing their jobs," he added.
"Our protest is against the US-India trade pact, which affects farmers and other labour-dependent sections. We also want to raise the issue of a legal guarantee for MSP on all crops, as was promised to us, besides a farm debt waiver," he said.
He also alleged the negligence and insensitivity of the government towards the 750 farmers who lost their lives during the agitation at the Delhi borders and later at Shambhu and Khanauri.
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