<p>Arhtiyas in Punjab on Tuesday started their four-day strike against income tax raids, allegedly conducted to intimidate them for supporting the farmers’ stir against the Centre’s agriculture laws.</p>.<p>According to Federation of Arhtiyas president Vijay Kalra, crop was neither sold nor purchased at grain markets in the state.</p>.<p>“All arhtiyas went on a four-day strike. They kept their shops shut,” said Ravinder Singh Cheema, president of the Punjab Arhtiya Association.</p>.<p>Cheema accused the Centre of taking “revengeful” action against commission agents for supporting the farmers’ agitation.</p>.<p>Premises of six commission agents were raided by the Income Tax Department recently.</p>.<p>A total of 14 commission agents had received notices from the IT Department before the raids.</p>.<p>“We are not going to be scared with this action of the Income Tax Department. We will continue to support farmers,” said a commission agent in Bathinda.</p>.<p>Commission agents said they had told farmers not to bring their crop to grain markets during the four-day strike.</p>.<p>Commission agents said farmers have also extended their support to them.</p>.<p>If any raid is conducted, then farmer leaders and commission agents will gherao income tax officials, they said.</p>.<p>There are around 24,000 licensed commission agents in the state.</p>.<p>On Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh too had accused the Centre of indulging in “intimidatory tactics” against commission agents by conducting income tax raids on their premises.</p>.<p>The CM had termed the I-T raids as “motivated” and a “pressure tactic” to curb their democratic right and freedom.</p>.<p>Farmers from different parts of the country, including Haryana and Punjab, have been camping at various border points of Delhi against the farm laws.</p>.<p>Farmers say the laws will eliminate the safety net of the minimum support price (MSP), leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. </p>
<p>Arhtiyas in Punjab on Tuesday started their four-day strike against income tax raids, allegedly conducted to intimidate them for supporting the farmers’ stir against the Centre’s agriculture laws.</p>.<p>According to Federation of Arhtiyas president Vijay Kalra, crop was neither sold nor purchased at grain markets in the state.</p>.<p>“All arhtiyas went on a four-day strike. They kept their shops shut,” said Ravinder Singh Cheema, president of the Punjab Arhtiya Association.</p>.<p>Cheema accused the Centre of taking “revengeful” action against commission agents for supporting the farmers’ agitation.</p>.<p>Premises of six commission agents were raided by the Income Tax Department recently.</p>.<p>A total of 14 commission agents had received notices from the IT Department before the raids.</p>.<p>“We are not going to be scared with this action of the Income Tax Department. We will continue to support farmers,” said a commission agent in Bathinda.</p>.<p>Commission agents said they had told farmers not to bring their crop to grain markets during the four-day strike.</p>.<p>Commission agents said farmers have also extended their support to them.</p>.<p>If any raid is conducted, then farmer leaders and commission agents will gherao income tax officials, they said.</p>.<p>There are around 24,000 licensed commission agents in the state.</p>.<p>On Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh too had accused the Centre of indulging in “intimidatory tactics” against commission agents by conducting income tax raids on their premises.</p>.<p>The CM had termed the I-T raids as “motivated” and a “pressure tactic” to curb their democratic right and freedom.</p>.<p>Farmers from different parts of the country, including Haryana and Punjab, have been camping at various border points of Delhi against the farm laws.</p>.<p>Farmers say the laws will eliminate the safety net of the minimum support price (MSP), leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. </p>