BKU begins dharna outside sugar mill for release of dues

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, March 18

State vice-president of the BKU (Lakhowal) Mahinder Singh with the support of various organisations today started an indefinite hunger strike in front of Dhuri Sugar Mill for the release of around Rs 70 crore of cane growers, who have already been sitting on an indefinite protest on the Sangrur-Dhuri road since March 7. The BKU (Ugrahan) also protested in front of the Sangrur DC office and announced to support the cane growers.

“Our leader has started hunger strike in front of Dhuri Sugar Mill. All growers have taken loans from various banks and private moneylenders to cultivate sugarcane, but due to the non-payment of their dues, they are facing serious problems,” said Jarnail Singh Jahangir, Sangrur district press secretary of the BKU Lakhowal.

“The Cane Commissioner of Punjab has also assured me that the payment of Rs 10.95 crore, which is pending towards the Punjab Cooperation Department, will be released in the next two days by the Finance Department,” said the DC.