Hike moisture content limit to 22%: Protesters to Centre

Members of several farm unions under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) today gheraoed Sangrur district administrative complex against tardy lifting of produce from mandis, shortage of DAP and registration of FIRs against farmers for burning paddy stubble.

Activists of the BKU (Rajewal), BKU (Dakonda-Burjgil), Kirti Kisan Union, BKU (Dakonda-Dhaner), Kul Hind Kisan Sabha and Punjab Kisan Union alleged that the state government and the Centre were responsible for chaos in grain markets.

The farm leaders urged both the governments to ensure smooth procurement and lifting of paddy at the earliest.

At a separate protest, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president, BKU (Ugrahan), burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP’s vice president of state unit Arvind Khanna and the World Trade Organisation at Sunami Gate in Sangrur.

Along with commencement of procurement and lifting of produce from mandis, the farm leaders sought increase in moisture content limit (22 per cent) of the crop.

Members of the BKU (Ugrahan) have been protesting outside the residence of Khanna since October 18 over non-procurement and lifting of produce.