LAHORE: The farmers’ sit-in turned violent after the police tried to disperse them here on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the farmers had blocked the main entrance to Lahore at Thokar Niaz Baig to protest against an increase in the cost of inputs of agriculture products.
Over 200 farmers were arrested during their clash with policemen who resorted to baton charge and tear gas to disperse the infuriated protesters. Meanwhile, the main leadership of farmers managed to escape from the scene.
The protest was led by Chaudhry Anwer of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad. Farmers belonging to Jhang, Dera Ghazi Khan, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and other parts of the province had also reached the provincial capital.
Talking to Business Recorder about the rising inflation and increase in the rates of different inputs like fertilizers and electricity, the protesters said they were unable to get the return according to the price-hike. Calling for reducing the power tariff for tube-wells and fertilizers’ rates, they demanded that the wheat support price should be increased to the level of Rs 2,000 as announced by the Sindh government.
The farmers made it clear that the sit-in would continue till signing of a written agreement as the government never materialized the promises it made in the past. About the current protest, the farmers and their representatives held the government responsible as it failed to come up to its assurances.
Reacting strongly to the government tactics, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb, Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Hassan Murtaza and JI Chief Senator Siraj-ul Haq expressed solidarity with the farmers and pledged to support them for their legitimate demands.
Marriyum said this selected government had nothing except insults, bullets and shelling for the people.
Since Wednesday morning, a large contingent of police was deputed to stop the farmers from entering the city after they had gathered at Thokar Niaz Beg for the protest. They were consistent in their demand to hold talks with the federal government officials only.
Meanwhile, Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Sirajul Haq in a press conference asked the government to immediately announce increase in support price of wheat, sugarcane and other major crops and accept all other demands of the farmers. Talking to media after holding a meeting with the representatives of farmers at Mansoora, the JI chief also demanded unconditional apology from the government for unleashing police crackdown on protesting growers at Thoker Niaz Baig.
Calling for immediate release of the farmers, he said it was unfortunate that rulers were deaf, dumb and blind to the plight of people and seemed unmoved to their demands. He said if the government was serious in prolonging its tenure it must announce decrease in prices of basic food commodities and introduce pro-farmer policies.
Senator Siraj, however, called for public dialogue engaging all the senior leadership of political parties to bring electoral reforms before the next election. There would be no use of elections if they were held under the same circumstances, he concluded.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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