Punjab farmers join hands for statewide protests on June 12

Seven unions to protest on June 12 for justice to MP farmers, debt waiver in Punjab

MOGA/BATHINDA: Seven farmer unions in Punjab on Thursday came together in support of those killed in Madhya Pradesh police firing on farmers agitating for better prices for their produce in the drought-ravaged region.

In a meeting held at Moga, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Ekta-Ugrahan decided to call of its Friday protest for debt waiver in Punjab, and instead join hands with other unions to raise the issue along with demanding justice for the MP farmers in statewide protests on June 12.

During the day-long protests outside offices of all district commissioners (DCs) in the state, the farmers will submit two memorandums: one on MP police firing addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the other to Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on his government’s failure to fulfil the poll promise of farm loan waiver.

Besides BKU Ekta Ugrahan, representatives of BKU Ekta Dakondha, Kirti Kisan Union, Kisan Sangarsh Committee (KSC) Punjab, KSC Azad, Krantikari Kisan Union Punjab and BKU Krantikar attended the meeting.

Condemning the MP police firing, BKU Ekta-Ugrahan senior vice-president Jhanda Singh Jethuke demanded registration of a first information report (FIR) on charge of murder against the police and civil authorities responsible for the incident. “We also demand withdrawal of FIRs against farmers agitating for their rights, and compensation for the families of deceased and injured farmers,” he said.

Slamming the Capt Amarinder Singh government for delay in debt waiver, he said: “The government should pass a resolution on debt waiver in the upcoming budget session to stop farmers from committing suicide.” Jethuke alleged the government that promised ‘karzakurki khatam’ in its poll manifesto is now finding excuses for not implementing it.

Besides demanding cancellation of all cheque-bounce cases lodged by banks against farmers for failing to repay loans, the unions sought compensation for families of farmer suicide victims. Jethuke said if the government fails to fulfil their demands by June-end, they will hold a state-level farmers’ convention in Jalandhar on July 7 to plan wider protests.

SHIVRAJ CHOUHAN’S EFFIGY BURNT

Members of the BKU (Sidhupur) burnt an effigy of MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Bathinda. They said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in MP and at the Centre should take action against those responsible for killing farmers.

Union leader Resham Singh said farmers across the nation are in a dire state, but the BJP government is celebrating its three years in power. He said various organisations working for the rights of farmers will hold a meeting at Delhi on Saturday to launch coordinated protests.