Cane farmers begin indefinite protest

Our Correspondent

Mukerian , August 26

Members of the Pagri Sambhal Jatta Lehar and Farmers Action Committee Mukerian-Gurdaspur, in protest against the non-payment of crores of rupees to the farmers by the Mukerian sugar mill till now, started an indefinite dharna today in front of the mill.

The protesters raised slogans in protest against the owners of the sugar mill and the state government. 

Addressing the dharna, farmers’ leaders Shambhunath Bharti, Sulkhan Singh Jaggi, Gurpratap Singh Gurnam Singh, Ishar Singh, Omkar Singh Purani Bhangala, Manjit Singh Kolpur, Amarjeet Singh, and others said the dues of farmers worth crores were still outstanding towards Sugar mill Mukerian and it should be released immediately. 

They also demanded that the sugar mills should start crushing from November 5 for the coming season so that the sugarcane of the farmers can be lifted and finished on time. 

The protesters demanded that like the fixed dates for the purchase of wheat and paddy, the dates of purchase of sugarcane should also be fixed so that farmers do not face any trouble. 

They said as long as the above demands were not met, and officials of the Punjab Commission reach Mukerian to meet the Farmers Action Committee to assure them of fulfilling the above demands, the dharna would continue.

They said: “If our demands were not met soon, we will be forced to intensify the struggle which will be the responsibility of the administration.”