Paddy straw burnt during stir

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, October 16

Farmers, under the banner of Kisan Sangharsh Committee (KSC), Punjab, burnt stubble in front of the District Administrative Complex (DAC) during their protest on Tuesday. A day before, farmers of Plasaur village, too, had burnt stubble as a mark of their protest against the government, under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC).

Earlier, a protest march was held by the farmers from Harike to Tarn Taran on tractor-trolleys.  Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu, state convener of the organisation, termed the government’s decision to ban stubble burning as ridiculous and uncalled for. He said just eight per cent of the air pollution was caused by burning farm residue. The farmers raised slogans against the state government for imposing fine and registering criminal cases against the farmers for burning stubble.

Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Rishi said no action would be taken against the farmers for burning stubble in front of the DAC as he termed it a mere symbolic action. They didn’t burn it in the fields, he added.