As a G20 event on education is being held in Punjab, the state's farmers' unions on Wednesday staged a massive protest to oppose the global event in Amritsar despite the Punjab government stating that no protests were allowed ahead of the event.
The farmers' unions claimed that the G20, the World Bank and IMF were "promoting imperialism".
It has been reported that the protest march was launched by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and Punjab Lok Morcha. The protest was held in Daburji area, 12 kilometres from the G20 Summit meeting venue.
The placards and banners put up by the protesters read "Come out of WTO. Repeal the treaties with imperialists", "Inqlab Zindabad, Samarajawad Murdabad" and "Stop offering the country resources to corporates".
Several G20 events are being held in Amritsar, in which delegates from many foreign nations are also taking part.
The main event on education is being held from March 15-17. Besides, the L20 meeting on labour is scheduled for March 19-20.
What did the farmers say?
As per media reports, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan said the policies made by the international organisations did not protect the interests of farmers and people in general.
"We are approaching the G20 because the policies made by the International Group of Seven (G7) countries never favoured us -- be it the farm sector, power, education or health services or even agriculture policies. All these policies have cost dear to us. The G7 nations have influenced the entire global economy," said Joginder Singh Ugraha.
"The 13 developing countries are being lured by G7 nations keeping in view their own interests," he added.
"We are also opposing the G20 which is part of the imperialist organisations like WTO and IMF. Their policies have caused an irreparable damage to the state's education, health and businesses," Jagmail Singh further added.
"India is hosting the summit this time which was earlier hosted by other countries where it also faced opposition," he claimed.
Jagmail Singh also claimed that G20 was snatching their employment and education amenities. "We appeal the Government of India to come out of WTO and to withdraw the policies which promote imperialism," he said.
Security measures taken by Punjab government
Police on Wednesday imposed a ban on flying drones and unmanned aerial vehicles in Amritsar city from March 14 to 21 in view of the ongoing G-20 meet there.
The ban also includes venues of G-20 Education Working Group meetings, and the places where delegates are staying as well as routes taken by them, a state government statement said.
"The Amritsar Commissionerate Police banned flying drones and unmanned aerial vehicles in the entire Commissionerate area from March 14 to March 21," it said.
Amritsar's police commissioner Naunihal Singh said the meeting venues, places where the delegation will stay and the routes taken by them have been declared red zones and flying of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles have been prohibited to strengthen the security and to prevent any untoward incident from airborne entities.
Punjab's Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav visited Amritsar on Tuesday to review the security arrangements and held meetings with senior officials.
Ahead of the G20 meet at Amritsar, the Punjab Police had conducted a special cordon and search operation in the state under which raids were conducted at locations and hideouts related to foreign-based gangsters as well as their associates.
(With PTI Inputs)
