Farmers block GT Road, lift dharna after assurance by SSP

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 19

Farmers today blocked the main GT Road over their demand for compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of labourer Ralla Singh, who died two days ago at the protest site and is yet to be cremated.

The farmers staged the protest only for three hours and lifted the dharna only after a meeting with the SSP was held.

They claimed that the SSP had assured them of arranging their meeting with the administrative official concerned to decide over the matter of compensation.

Heavy police force was deployed near the protest site. The farmers have continued their protest inside the park situated opposite to the District Administrative Complex.

They have been staging protest since May 24 and have not caused any inconvenience either to the officials or to the commuters and visitors.

During their last year’s protest, the farmers had blocked the same road for many days to pressurise the state government over their long-pending demands.

BKU Ekta Ugrahan district president Shingara Singh Mann said, “Around 2 pm, we shifted our protest on to the main road to pressurise the government for Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family of deceased Ralla Singh, who died during the protest. We have not blocked the road this time unlike the last year for our long-pending demands. However, we will continue our protest at the park situated outside the District Administrative Complex.”

The body of the victim labourer would not be cremated until his family receives compensation and a job for his family member, he added.

Farmers are demanding a solution to the stray cattle problem; Rs 40,000 as compensation for the damaged wheat crop due to the fire caused by short circuit as a few farmers whose crop was burnt reportedly committed suicide; round-the-clock power supply ahead of the paddy season; quashing of false cases against the protesting farmers and compensation to those injured or dead during the farmers’ agitation.

They also demand the implementation of the Swaminathan report; waiving of the debt of farmers and farm labourers, who are unable to pay their loans; paying of compensation of Rs 5 lakh each immediately to the families of suicide victims; survey of suicides from 1990 onwards; release of motor connections to farmers on government expenses; full compensation of Rs 40,000 to farmers who faced damage to the cotton crop, following the whitefly attack; and making laws in favour of farmers instead of corporate houses or arhtiyas.