Protesting Farmer Unions Hold Large Rallies In Punjab Despite Rising Covid-19 Cases

Though Punjab reported 60 deaths due to Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, the unions of the protesting farmers have held two big rallies in Amritsar district in two days.

After conducting a rally at Amritsar’s Bhagtanwala on Sunday (18 April), another rally was held on Monday (19 April) in Kukranwala village.

While the Bhagtan Wala rally was held by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Monday’s event was organised by Sonia Mann to mark the death anniversary of her father and Left-wing activist Baldev Mann, reports The Indian Express.

“We will not forget the conspiracies of this government to hurt the farmer movement by labelling farmers as ‘Khalistanis’ and ‘terrorists’. But such attempts didn’t work,” said Gaurav Tikait, son of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait.

“Government has now come up with a new excuse of Covid-19. First Prime Minister should stop his rallies,” he said

“I observe the death anniversary of my father every year. However, this year I decided to hold a farmers’ rally in support of farmers protesting against the three new bills,” said Sonia Mann.

Punjab, particularly Amritsar remains one of the worst affected districts by Covid-19. The state added more than 4,600 new cases yesterday.