Demands not met, farmers protest outside DCoffice

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, June 19

On the second consecutive day, farmers staged a demonstration opposite the office of the Deputy Commissioner on Tuesday to protest against the non-fulfilment of their demands.

The farmers, led by Sukhmander Singh, president, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta Ugrahan, submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner to be sent to the Punjab Chief Minister.

They demanded that the deadline for sowing of paddy should be advanced and the cases registered against farmers for sowing paddy before the deadline should be withdrawn immediately.

They demanded ensuring of 16-hour uninterrupted power supply during the peak paddy season. They sought to increase permissible moisture content of paddy from 17 per cent to 24 per cent at the time of procurement. The farmers pleaded that government should introduce MSP on basmati, corn and pulses to promote diversification of crops in Punjab.

On Monday, the farmers tried to meet Cabinet minister Balbir Singh Sidhu during his visit to Fazilka, but were kept at bay.