14 farmers court arrest in Karnal

Tribune News Service

Karnal, August 3

In continuation to their indefinite strike at Karnal co-operative sugar mill in support of their demands, 14 farmers under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Union courted arrest on the 11th day of their protest on Friday. The demands include starting the construction work of a new sugar mill and releasing the payment of sugarcane farmers.

They raised slogans against the state government and alleged that it had failed to keep its promise and betrayed the farming community. Meanwhile, a police force was deployed there to maintain peace and harmony.

Confirming the arrest, Imran Raza, SDM, Gharaunda, said 14 farmers had courted arrest. Rattan Mann, state president of BKU, said they had given an ultimatum that by Friday afternoon any of the MLAs of Karnal district should come and give them a written assurance over both issues, but none of them turned up to give the assurance, so they courted arrest. “We will continue our protest till the fulfilment of our demands. The farmers will court arrest in Kurukshetra on August 4, in Yamunanagar on 5, in Kaithal on 6 and 7, in Jind on 8, in Bhiwani on 9, in Hisar on 10 and in Karnal women farmers will court arrest on August 11,” he maintained.

However, Harvinder Kalyan, Gharaunda MLA and Hafed chairman, in a press note appealed to the farming community to lift their dharna and assured them that the work on the new sugar mill would start by the end of September.