Farmers commence five-day protest in Ludhiana

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 20

To press for implementation of their pending demands, which were already accepted in principle by the state government, hordes of farmers led by activists of the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU Ekta-Ugrahan) today commenced their protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office at the Mini-Secretariat here.

The protesting farmers said their demands, including compensation for loss of cotton and paddy crops, promised price for sugar cane, compensation to farmers who died during the protest, government jobs to eligible family members of farmers committing suicides and complete debt waiver, were not being implemented by the government for unknown reasons.

Farmers were also demanding action against drug peddling, arrest of drug lords and their political patrons, employment for rural youth and an end to police repression against teachers and other government/contractual employees. They also sought action in cases of farmers affected by land acquisition for highways being constructed under the ‘Bharatmala’ project who were being denied adequate compensation for their land.

BKU general secretary Sudagar Singh Ghudani said the protest would continue round the clock till December 24. The protesting farmers had brought beddings, blankets and quilts and ration, stoves and chullahs as well as utensils to be used by them during the five-day protest.

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