Farmers block Jalandhar-Phagwara NH, rail link over SAP

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 20

Thousands of farmers from across Punjab today blocked the rail and road routes between Jalandhar and Phagwara, demanding the release of sugarcane arrears and at least Rs 70 per quintal hike in the state assured price (SAP).

Also read: Rs 15 per quintal hike cruel joke: BKU-Kadian

The state government had announced an increase of Rs 15 per quintal last evening, prompting the Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee to give a call for a protest. All 32 farmer unions from across the state gathered at the site today.

The dharna on the NH-I stretch snapped direct link between major cities, including Jalandhar, Amritsar and Pathankot on the one side and Ludhiana on the other for an indefinite period.

Weren’t consulted

Sugarcane growers in Haryana get Rs358/quintal. We were expecting a hike of Rs70. The government didn't consult us before announcing Rs15/quintal hike. — Manjit Rai, BKU (Doaba) president

Thousands of commuters were caught in snarl-ups as they took detours to reach their destinations. While the jam started around 10 am, the railway traffic was curtailed around 4 pm.

Also read: Passengers left stranded at Amritsar railway station

At least eight trains, including Delhi-bound Shan-e-Punjab Express and Sri Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express, were affected and passengers remained stranded. Amritsar-bound Chandigarh Amritsar Intercity Express too was halted at Ludhiana. A Singhu-like dharna was witnessed at the protest site with tents, water tankers and meals being arranged from surrounding villages.

Leading the dharna, BKU (Doaba) president Manjit Rai said: “Sugarcane growers in neighbouring Haryana get Rs 358 per quintal. When Punjab revised the SAP, it should have at least considered the fact that prices had not been revised for four years and were stuck at Rs 295-Rs 310 per quintal depending upon the variety. We were expecting a hike of at least Rs 70. The government did not consult us before announcing the Rs 15 per quintal hike. Like the BJP, the Congress government too has been playing with farmers’ sentiments.”

While the issue pertained to the Congress government’s decision, most farmer leaders were seen raising anti-Modi slogans. Baldev Singh Sirsa of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha maintained: “Both governments are the same. Neither has an iota of feelings for farmers. We are in enough strength and can handle both morchas — one against the Centre in Delhi and the second against the state in Jalandhar.”

DC Ghanshyam Thori, CP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and SSP Naveen Singla met the protesting farmers in the evening and urged them to lift the dharna. The farmers said they won’t budge until they got a government assurance on hike in SAP. “We are likely to hold a pucca morcha here,” said a union leader.

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