Ludhiana: Members of a farmers' union staged a protest at the Ladhowal toll plaza on Monday, making it toll-free for nearly three hours. The demonstration was held to demand compensation for losses incurred during last year's floods in Punjab.
Protest Led by Senior Farmer Leader
The protest was led by Taranjit Singh Nimana, a senior leader of the Azad Kisan Morcha. Upon receiving information, police and administration officials arrived at the scene and attempted to persuade the protesters not to disrupt toll collection. However, the protesters remained firm in their stance.
Farmer leader Taranjit Singh stated that despite facing resistance from the police and civil administration, they successfully forced the toll plaza to remain free. No fees were collected from vehicles between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. He added that they had initially planned to start an indefinite protest after giving the government a deadline of April 30. However, after the Punjab governor granted them time for a meeting, they discussed the matter with various farmers' groups and decided to make the toll plaza free for three hours as a symbolic action.
Demands for Compensation
Listing their demands, the farmer leader said that farmers suffered heavy crop losses during last year's floods but did not receive adequate compensation from the government. He further noted that even in March this year, farmers faced heavy damage to wheat and vegetable crops due to unseasonal rainfall. Although the government announced compensation for these losses, it has not been disbursed.
The protesters claimed that they had raised the issue multiple times before the central and state governments, but their concerns were ignored. They demanded that the Centre and state government resolve the issues at the earliest. They warned that if their demands are not fulfilled, they will intensify their agitation.
Background of the Agitation
The farmers' union has been pressing for adequate compensation for natural calamities that have affected their livelihoods. Last year's floods caused extensive damage to crops across Punjab, and many farmers are still awaiting financial relief. The unseasonal rainfall in March added to their woes, damaging standing crops and increasing their financial burden.
The protest at Ladhowal toll plaza is part of a broader movement by farmers' groups to highlight the delayed compensation and seek immediate action from authorities. The protesters emphasized that they will continue their peaceful agitation until their demands are met.
