BKU, KKU unite to protest Rs 19 crore sugarcane dues

Amid the call of a huge farmer mahapanchayat at Kukkar Pind by Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) Doaba and other unions on August 20 regarding various demand of farmers, a mobilisation of other farm unions of Doaba is also taking place.

Farmers of the BKU-Qadian and the Kirti Kisan Union (KKU) have announced to take part in the struggle over their pending sugarcane dues with the Nakodar sugar mill. A call regarding this has also been given for August 18.

In protest against the non-payment of Rs 19 crore by Cooperative Sugar Mill Limited, Nakodar, to farmers, the BKU-Qadian and the Kirti Kisan Union held a joint meeting at Mehatpur today. Farmers decided that the organisations would jointlyfight to get the dues of the farmers released from the mill.

In the first phase on August 18, the farmers unions would meet the management of the sugar mill and submit a demand letter, demanding the release of the arrears of Rs 19 crore.

Amrik Singh, Jalandhar president of the BKU-Qadian said, "The call for the meeting with the Nakodar mill management could be termed the first step in the process. Sugarcane farmers across Doaba and in the state have their dues pending with various mills. The government dues payable to many of these mills are also pending. Our long time dues are pending with the sugar mill at Phagwara. A payment from 2021-22 is also still unpaid. In addition to this, farmers' dues remain pending with sugar mills in Dasuya, Mukerian, Buttran, Morinda, Amloh."

The BKU-Doaba and other unions who have given a call on August 20 for the Kukkar Pind mahapanchayat fall under SKM (non-political). The Kukkad Pind mahapanchayat will address issues such as land pooling, pending sugarcane dues and crops damage due to floods. Farmers shall gather on August 20 at the Behram toll Plaza from where they will march to Kukkar Pind for the mahapanchayat.