Page:Sharad Joshi - Leading Farmers to the Centre Stage.pdf/236

 It was heard that the Committee had recommended a rate of Rs. 190 per quintal for the wheat so that the farmers could afford to pay the increased power tariff. However, Government did not grant any such increased price. Instead, it started recovery of pending electricity bills by use of force. In some cases even power supply was cut off. To protest against that, the farmers decided not to bring their wheat to the market for sale. Joshi had said, ‘Of the total wheat coming to the market for sale in the country, nearly 70% comes from Punjab. You are sitting on that huge pile of wheat. That weapon you have is more powerful than an atom bomb. If you decide to use it, decide that you will not bring your wheat to the market for sale, then any government will have to accept your demands.’ Punjab farmers declared the “kanak band andolan” (“no wheat to the market”) from 1 May 1984. It had very good response from the farmers. For a week not a grain of wheat was brought to the market. Huge markets like the one at Khanna presented a deserted look. Unfortunately, after 8 May farmers lost their patience. They just did not have the capacity to hold longer. They began delivering wheat to the market and the agitation had to be withdrawn. However, the discontent kept seething. It was decided to organize a big farmers’ rally in Chandigarh on 20 July. Even for that agitation, ten farmers from Maharashtra went to Chandigarh as a measure of support. The morcha started from Panchayat Bhavan in Chandigarh and was proceeding to Raj Bhavan. However, this time the Government had decided to nip the agitation in bud and arrested all the leaders before they could reach Raj Bhavan where the rally was to take place. Those arrested were produced in the Court and the Magistrate gave them a remand of sixteen days. Jawandhiya and Joshi were amongst those arrested. A lawyer from Parbhani, Anant Joshi in Punjab

Q

215