Punjab Farm Agent To Close Stores For 4 Days In Protest Against TI Raids

Farmer Protests Updates: Farmers’ protests against farm laws entered their 27th day today.

New Delhi:

Commission agents known as Arhtiyas in Punjab will keep their stores closed for four days starting Tuesday in protest against income tax raids allegedly carried out to intimidate them for supporting farmers’ agitation against the center’s farm laws, according to an organism that represents them.

The Arhtiyas Federation said that income tax raids have been carried out on the premises of six commission agents in recent days.

“We have decided to close our stores for four days to protest the action of the Income Tax Department against arhtiyas,” said Vijay Kalra, president of the federation.

Mr. Kalra is among six commission agents whose premises were raided by the Income Tax Department.

On Saturday, Punjab’s Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also accused the center of engaging in “intimidation tactics” against commission agents by conducting income tax raids on its facilities.

The prime minister had described the raids as “motivated” and a “pressure tactic” to curb his democratic right and freedom.

Here are the live updates on the farmers’ protests:

The protesting farmers completely block the Ghazipur (Delhi-Ghaziabad) border.

Traffic from Delhi to Ghazipur and Ghaziabad on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway was affected as both side roads were closed to traffic.

We have not yet received any invitations for meetings from the Minister of Agriculture. The farmers have decided that they will not return until the government withdraws the 3 agricultural laws. It will take more than a month to solve all the problems. The government will come to us: Rakesh Tikait, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union.

Protesting farmers console themselves by lighting bonfires as cold weather conditions continue in the national capital.

The farmers’ protest against the Center’s three agricultural laws begins on the 27th at the Singhu border (Delhi-Haryana border).

Maharashtra farmers leave for Delhi to join protests

Thousands of Maharashtra farmers left for Delhi on Monday from Nashik to join the ongoing agitation by farmers seeking the repeal of three agricultural laws passed by the Center.

The farmers, who left in private vehicles, were led by Kisan Sabha leaders.

A Kisan Sabha leader said that farmers from 21 districts of Maharashtra are on their way to Delhi.

He said Maharashtra farmers have been demanding the exemption of “inflated” energy bills and the implementation of the MS Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations.