Chandigarh, Sept 30: Maintaining their pressure on Punjab government to concede to their demands including free power, eight frontal organisations of farmers have decided to block rail and road traffic across the state today. "To intensify the farmers ongoing agitation against the anti-peasant policies of Amarinder Singh government the organisations chalked out a coordinated action under which it was decided to block rail and road traffic from 12 pm to 3 pm," All India Kirti Kisan Sabha president Prem Singh Bhangu told reporters.
"We are ready for any kind of confrontation with anyone if it takes place," he said accusing the state government of "backtracking" from it's poll promises made to the farmers.
He castigated the state as well the Centre for allegedly working under the dictates of WTO.
The demands of farmers include restoration of free power and water supply to farm sector, withdrawal of four per cent sales tax on insecticides and pesticides, clearing of sugarcane arrears to the tune of Rs 130 crore and bonus for paddy as announced by the state government.
The organisations which participated in the meeting included BKU (Ekta), Punjab Kisan Sabha, Jamoohari Kisan Sabha, Kirti Kisan Union, Khetibari Kisan and Vikas Front, BKU (Ugranh), Kisan Sangrash Committee and All India Kirti Kisan Sabha.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had rejected negotiations with the farmers claiming that "twice the state government had conceded to their demands”. Bureau Report