Punjab CM appeals to farmers not to damage mobile towers

Chandigarh, Dec 25 : Amid reports of disconnection of power supply to various mobile towers across Punjab, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday appealed to protesting farmers not to inconvenience the public with such actions but to continue to exercise the same restraint as they had been showing over the past several months of their agitation.
Pointing out that telecom connectivity had become even more critical for people amid the Covid pandemic, he urged the farmers to show the same discipline and sense of responsibility which they had been exercising during their protest at the Delhi border, which has completed one month, and also earlier during their agitation in the state.
Urging the farmers not to take the law in their hands by forcibly shutting down telecom connectivity or manhandling employees and technicians of telecom service providers, the Chief Minister said such actions were not in the interest of Punjab and its future.
He said the people of Punjab, had been standing with the farmers in their fight against the ‘black’ farm laws, and would continue to do so, and requested the farmers to reciprocate by ensuring that the battle for justice does not cause any problems for the people of the state.
Forceful disruption of telecom services due to snapping of power supply to mobile towers by farmers in several parts of the state was not only adversely affecting the studies and future prospects of students, who are dependent entirely on online education, but also hampering the daily life of people working from home due to the pandemic, said the Chief Minister.
Further, the disruption of telecom services would also seriously affect the state’s already disturbed economy, he noted, exhorting the farmers to continue with their peaceful protests without causing any inconvenience to the citizens of Punjab.