Irate over Centre’s policies, farmers stage sit-ins

Tribune News Service

Moga, April 1

Seventeen farmers and farm labour bodies under the banner of BKU (Ekta) staged dharnas in all districts of the Malwa belt today to protest the Centre’s new Land Acquisition Ordinance and to press for their demands.

Seeking withdrawal of this ordinance, the BKU leaders threatened to intensify their struggle and launch a statewide stir in support of their demands if their demands were not met.

The protests were held at Moga, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa and other districts of the Malwa belt.

BKU (Ekta) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan and general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokari said the farmer organisations had decided to intensify their struggle against the decisions of the Union Government regarding the acquisition of their productive land.

They also announced that agitation would be carried out across the state if the Food Corporation of India took any decision to stop the purchase of wheat in the state. They also demanded minimum support price for all crops on the pattern of wheat and paddy.

Kokari demanded a compensation of Rs5 lakh each to the families of farmer who had committed suicide due to debt and also demanded employment to the kin of the deceased.

Fazilka: A large number of farmers under the banner of BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) and Krantikari, Kisan Sabha and Punjab Palledar Union held a district level demonstration outside the office of Deputy Commissioner, Fazilka, to oppose the land acquisition Bill proposed by the Union Government.

They accused the government of overlooking their interests. They demanded that not only the MSP of different crops should be continued, but all crops should be brought under this category.

Sangrur: Hundreds of activists of various farmers’ and labourers’ organisations staged a dharna and a rally outside the district administrative complex (DC office) here today. They were protesting against the non-acceptance of their long-standing demands. They also submitted a memorandum to the SDM.

The BKU (Ugrahan), BKU (Dakonda), Punjab Kisan Union (PKU), Zamhoori Kisan Sabha (ZKS), Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union (KPMU) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union (PKMU) took part in the protest.

State president of the BKU (Ugrahan) Joginder Singh Ugrahan said many demands of farmers and labourers had not been fulfilled. Some of these had already been accepted by the government, but not implemented so far. He said if the government failed in implementing these even now, farmers and labourers would be compelled to intensify their agitation.

Tarn Taran: A deputation of the Kisan Sangarash Committee presented a memorandum to the deputy commissioner demanding compensation for the damaged crops due to unprecedented rain and hailstorm in the area. Sawinder Singh Chutala, state general secretary, said a huge loss had been caused to the crops especially to the wheat and vegetable crops. A special girdawari should be conducted to know the exact loss cause to the crops, he said.

Agitation against land acquisition Bill gains momentum, may spread across the state

• Protests were held at Moga, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot, Muktsar, Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa and other districts of Malwa
• BKU (Ekta) chief Joginder Ugrahan said they would intensify their stir against the acquisition of their productive land
• He said the agitation would be held across the state if the FCI stopped the purchase of wheat in the state
• The activists sought a relief of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each farmer who had committed suicide due to debt