Government and farmers must come together on a common platform to resolve issue: PPBM

Ludhiana, December 30, 2024: Today, a press conference of the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal was held at the main office on Mata Rani Road under the leadership of State General Secretary and member of the National Traders' Welfare Board, Sunil Mehra, and State Secretary Ayush Agarwal.

This press conference was convened to address the shutdown initiated by Punjab farmers.

According to these business leaders, Punjab is already grappling with an economic recession. Due to instability in law and order, traders and businessmen from outside state have started to feel afraid, and the thriving trade within Punjab has begun to decline.

They said because of the anti-business policies of the new state government, over 1 lakh business units have relocated from the state, and investments exceeding ₹3 lakh crore have moved out of Punjab. The previous farmer's protest resulted in losses of over ₹5 lakh crore to the state business community and Ludhiana alone, being the industrial and commercial hub, suffered damages exceeding ₹1 lakh crore.

Adding, they said the business community had not even recovered from those losses when, since February this year, Punjab’s two borders, Shambu and Khanauri, were blocked by farmers due to their protests. The border closures caused difficulties for traders and businessmen entering the state, disrupted the movement of goods, and led to decline in exports from Punjab and movement of goods at higher costs.

Because of these closures, an additional cost of approximately ₹300 crore per week had been incurred. Punjab’s traders have started losing ground in both international and national competition. Today, the farmers’ protests have once again brought life in Punjab to a standstill. Ludhiana’s industrial units alone have suffered losses of approximately ₹1,500 crore due to blocked roads, halted trains, and closed borders today.

The state government is currently burdened with debt exceeding ₹3.5 lakh crore. Punjab’s traders understand the pain of the state and have worked tirelessly to increase the state’s GST collection, which has reached ₹20,000 crore annually, even though it is four times less than that of neighbouring Haryana.

Punjab’s youth is leaving the state for other regions and countries. The government itself admits that over 9 lakh youths have already left the state. The current unemployment rate in Punjab is 19%, double the national rate.

These business leaders urged farmers to understand that both farmers and traders are the backbone of the state. While striving for the welfare of one group, the state and the other groups should not suffer losses.

They also pointed out that the farmers’ organisations organised this shutdown without consulting and confiding with the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal.

Expressing concern over Punjab’s economic situation, they said the government and farmers must come together on a common platform to resolve this issue because Punjab’s traders and residents can no longer bear the ongoing losses to the state.

"The institution has always been proactive in Punjab’s development. If the government, farmers, and traders come together on a common platform to discuss the state’s development, it will be beneficial for all", said the leaders.

The leaders also announced that a meeting of traders from across the state will soon be convened in Ludhiana to discuss this issue. If needed, traders, like farmers, will raise their voice and struggle for their rights and the state’s progress.