Demonstrations against lockdown in Punjab વિરો Opponents of agricultural laws ૩૨ Farmers' organizations also joined

(PTI) Chandigarh, Ta. 8

The Punjab government has implemented a weekend lockdown in the state in view of the rising cases of corona. Various farmers' organizations in the state are protesting this weekend lockdown. Nine farmers' organizations opposing the central agricultural laws have also announced their opposition to the weekend lockdown. These organizations have also asked shopkeepers not to enforce lockdown restrictions.

Demonstrations were held in various cities including Moga, Patiala, Amritsar, Ajnala in protest of the lockdown. "We appeal to shopkeepers to keep their shops open," Sukhdev Singh Kokarikal, general secretary of Bharat Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), told Kokarikal in Moga. We are with them. Lockdown is not the solution to the Corona epidemic.

Kokarikal further alleged that no steps have been taken by the government to improve the health infrastructure. Protesters, including women and farmers, rallied in the market and asked shopkeepers to open their shops through loudspeakers. However, the shopkeepers kept their shops closed.

A large number of police personnel were deployed in view of the farmers' rally. Just yesterday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had instructed the police to strictly enforce the weekend lockdown.

The state government has announced a weekend lockdown and daily night curfew till May 15 to curb Corona. A farmer leader in Amritsar said that if the state government wanted to implement a lockdown, the state governments should provide free foodgrains to shopkeepers and waive electricity and tax bills.