Seek loan waiver, lay siege to police station

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, August 10

Over 200 farmers entered the city police station and sat on a dharna on the premises during a protest by members of various farm organisations today.

They were demanding a complete loan waiver and revision of crop prices. The protest was part of their “jail bharo” agitation.

The dharna made the movement of police and public difficult. The police heaved a sigh of relief only after the protestors left the place, but with a warning to return on Friday morning.

Members of four organisations – BKU (Kadian), BKU (Sidhupur), Pagri Sambhal Jatta and Doaba Sangarsh Committee — participated in the dharna.

The farmers also demanded Rs 5,000 per acre as compensation for compliance of stubble burning ban. They also raised the problem of stray animals which is another big challenge to the already “distressed” peasantry in the state.

The government was collecting a huge amount in the name of cow cess, but the instead of taking care of stray cattle, the government has left it to farmers to tackle the problem, alleged Pritam Singh, a leader of BKU (Sidhupur).