Amritsar district farmers gear up for Mar 14 mahapanchayat

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 6

Ahead of the Kisan Mahapanchayat at Ramlila Ground in Delhi on March 14, the farmer unions associated with Sanyukt Kisan Morcha have started their preparations. The farmer leaders stated that they would go to Delhi in trains this time.

Addressing a gathering, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha leader Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala said, “Farmers from across the country will participate in the panchayat to demand MSP for various crops.” Ajnala said that the farmers can also go in their personal cars.

Ajnala stated that if the government tries to stop farmers from reaching Delhi by stopping trains or buses, then they would initiate their dharnas at the place where they are stopped.

He also criticised the Punjab Budget and termed it as too meagre to fulfill the demands of the people. He added that the agriculture sector has again been ignored as the government has allocated a total of Rs 13,784 crore for it which is only 6 per cent of the budget.

“The agriculture sector’s contribution to state GDP is nearly 30 per cent and it provides 60 per cent jobs, still the government has betrayed the agrarian community,” he added.

He added that giving MSP on basmati alone could help Punjab government generate revenue of Rs 40,000 crore. “Punjab government can create a public sector entity which can buy basmati and export it to other countries. Presently, this is being done by private players,” he said, adding that mining of sand and gravel could also be done by the public sector.

Ajnala further stated that to improve the fiscal health of state, the government should not provide power subsidy to the farmers with land holdings of over 10 hectares (25 acres). He said that the state has 58,000 farmers who have more than 25 hectares of land and own nearly 8 lakh hectares collectively.

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