Farmers protest outside DC offices in Bathinda, Barnala

On the call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) on Monday staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Bathinda, demanding compensation for the families of three women farmers who were killed in a bus accident while on way to Tohana (Haryana) for attending a “kisan mahapanchayat” there.

District president of the union Singara Singh Mann, general secretary Harjinder Singh and others condemned the government’s alleged silence on the issue. They said that instead of providing immediate free healthcare to the injured, they were being harassed due to technical issues under the Farishtey scheme.

They said the families of the three deceased should be given a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each, one member each of those families should get government job and their loans should be waived. The seriously injured persons should be given Rs 5 lakh each, while other injured should get Rs 2 lakh each.

The families of the three women who died in the accident also participated in the protest.

Members and activists of the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) also staged a dharna outside the office of Deputy Commissioner in Barnala seeking compensation for the families of three elderly women killed in the road accident on January 4.

The protesters also demanded compensation for the 36 activists of the union who were injured in the mishap.