KKF urges to open the Wagah border for trade, celebrates Farmers Fateh Divas , caution against use of agriculture land for non productive purposes as highways

CHANDIGARH: The Kirti Kisan Forum, an organisation of former IAS, IPS, Army officers and social activists has urged the Union Government to resume the trade via Wagah International Check Post(ICP) as it would benefit the entire northern region especially Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The resuming of the trade would give a big boost to the economy of the region and generate new avenues of employment for youth.

While celebrating the Farmers’ Fateh Divas at the local Shaheed Udham Singh Bhavan to mark the success of famers peaceful and democratic agitation at the Delhi borders three years ago, the KKF remembered the farmer warriors who sacrificed their lives for the cause of farmers. The KKF has appealed to the Punjab government to celebrate November 19 every year as Kisan Fateh Divas.

On the completion of four years of the establishment of the Kirti Kisan Forum, today all the retired civil, police, military and provincial officers took a pledge to dedicate their long experience and ability for the welfare of farmers. The members unanimously passed a resolution demanding that Wagah border should be opened as it would help farmers, traders, business and other sections of North India in big way to expand their activities related to their respective profession. The Wagah land route should be used for trade with Central Asia and Europe. It would bring more prosperity to the farming sector and would lead to the flourishing of trade, business and industry.

The most fertile land of this region should not be used for unnecessary non-agricultural activities such as laying a network of super highways. The forum members unanimously said that Punjab farmers have not only wiped out hunger but also ensured food security and sovereignty for the country. As it has been predicted that a large part of the world would face a food crisis in the next three decades, Punjab would play a pivotal role in saving humanity from this food crisis.

Taking note of unwanted laying of the super highways in the region at the cost of highly productive agricultural land, the KKF said that if agricultural produce is to be transported to the ports of the big corporates in Gujarat through such express roads, then this is a betrayal of the farmers of the North Indian region. All the members emphasized on making Wagah border a means of trade for the future security of the people of Punjab, Himachal, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Western UP, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir, especially the sections related to agriculture, trade , business and industry.

Thet members present at the meeting decided to further intensify their activities under the banner of the forum to change the economic and social condition of farmers and other sections of society associated with agriculture.