Farmers on strike over lifting charges

Farmers of the district under the banner of Jamhoori Kisan Sabha started a relay hunger strike for an indefinite period from today, demanding return of the amount deducted by arhtiyas from the accounts of farmers in the name of lifting charges during procurement of paddy.

The farmers organised a rally in front of the District Administration Complex (DAC) before starting the relay hunger strike, in which farmers from different villages participated. Mukhtar Singh Mallha, Dajit Singh Dialpura, Manjit Singh Baggu and Narinder Kaur among others addressed the gathering.

The leaders alleged that they had been bringing the matter to the notice of the district administration and they had been given an assurance that they would get back the deducted amount. But this had not been received by them till date, which had forced them to go on the agitation path, they added.

On the first day, 11 farmers sat on the hunger strike. Certain other public organisations too have extended their support to the agitating farmers.