Not paid aid, cotton farmers stage protest in Bathinda

Bathinda, January 21

Farmers under the banner of the BKU Ekta Ugrahan protested in front of the Bathinda District Administrative Complex and sought compensation for cotton crop, which had got damaged due to the pink bollworm attack.

Farmers raised slogans against the district administration and the state government. Baljit Singh, a union leader, said, “We planned to meet senior officials, but the authorities denied. Later, as we threatened to gherao the DC office, the administration swung into action and a meeting was fixed with the Additional Deputy Commissioner.”

He said, “The ADC assured us that by coming Monday the compensation amount will be deposited in bank accounts of every affected farmer. Lists of farmers whose cotton crop suffered damage due to the pink bollworm attack and those eligible for the compensation will also be displayed. Thus, we called off the protest.” Simarjit Singh, another leader of the union, said, “We have called off the stir for now.” —