Farmers protest against registration of FIRs

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 13

Opposing registration of FIRs and imposition of fine against farmers for burning paddy stubble, members of various farmer unions staged a protest at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Ludhiana on Wednesday.

They demanded from the government to cancel the FIRs registered against the farmers and also waive off the fine imposed on them for burning the stubble.

Members of Kirti Kisan Union, Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) and Bharti Kisan Union (Dakaunda) gathered and submitted a memorandum to the DC. The farmers alleged that the government failed to pay attention towards the demands of the farmers.

Saudagar Singh of BKU Ekta Ugrahan said, “In 2015, the National Green Tribunal had issued instructions to the government to ensure stubble management. The government was supposed to provide free machinery to the farmers having land up to two acres to sow the wheat crop. Besides, the machines were to be provided on rent to the farmers having up to five acres land or above for sowing wheat crop. But, the government failed to make required arrangements due to which the farmers were being forced to burn paddy stubble.”

“The government should ensure availability of required machinery and pay Rs 200 per quintal as bonus to each farmer for managing the stubble. No FIR should be registered against any farmer for burning stubble. No fine should be charged from the farmers for burning stuble. The registered FIRs should be quashed at the earliest. The required machinery should be made available at the village societies. If our demands are not met, we will be forced to intensify our protest,” he said.