Referring to the Bharatmala projects in Punjab, Ugrahan said the development which the Centre claimed would take place by building major highways was actually going to be for the corporates. “These roads are not for us but to facilitate the corporates so that they can sell their produce and easily procure material from here, ‘’ he claimed.Addressing the gathering at Matka Chowk, Rakesh Tikait of the Bharatiya Kisan Union said Centre should frame a law that gave a guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP). “Regarding the demands to the Punjab government, the demands are for a new agriculture policy. The government should talk to farmers and their leaders and frame a policy as we can give suggestions. There are many issues, including those pertaining to depleting ground water. What the state government can do on MSP, what recommendations it can give to the Centre on many issues pertaining to farmers and what policies it can frame on its own, these are various issues,’’ he said. Referring to the Chandigarh Administration allowing the protest, Tikait said, “After 2008, farmers are here. There is good greenery here, you don’t need to erect a tent.”Due to the farmers protest there was traffic chaos in the city, as Matka Chowk is a busy roundabout in the heart of the city. Meanwhile Sector 34 is also an educational and commercial hub. In view of the protest, many private coaching institutes today suspended classes . Farmers from various parts of Punjab arrived in buses, tractor-trolleys and their personal vehicles and converged in to the city. Meanwhile thirty two farmer unions of the Samyukat Kisan Morcha of Punjab, held a Mahapanchayat.
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