Angry farmers hit out at Cong govt
Accuse the state government of betraying the community; criticise admn over farmer suicides
AMRITSAR: The farmers under Kissan Sangharsh Committee (KSC) protested outside the chief engineer (border zone) Punjab State Power Corporation Limited’s office on Thursday.
The protesting farmers accusing the state government of betraying the farming community of Punjab. The farmers gathered outside the PSPCL office at around 1. 00 pm and raised slogans against the chief minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh.
The protest went on for over four hours.The protesters criticised the state government on regular farmer suicides and other issues faced by the farmers across the state.
KSC member Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “It is shocking how the state government turned its back on the promises they had made, after the polls.” “During the election campaign, the Congress promised waiver of the entire debt of farmers. But nothing has happened and the farmers are committing suicides regularly,” said Pandher.
Pandher said that the state farmers will continue with agitations across the state till their demands are met. Pandher said, “Even though payments for new electricity connections have been made in many cases but the department has not installed new connections.”
The farmers had demanded lower electricity rates but that too hasn’t been done,he said. The state government has changed its stance in just few months but the farmers will not take it sitting back at home, he said.
Farmer leader Satnam Singh Pannu also said, “The power department has imposed heavy fines on many farmers and this is shocking. Farmers cannot pay hefty fines so this must be withdrawn.” Though the farmers during the dharna had announced that they will block rail as well as road traffic but later a meeting was held with police and Powercom officials in the chief engineer office.
During the talks it was decided that the state PSPCL officials will meet farmer leaders in Chandigarh on August 18.
Also to resolve some police related issues, a meeting will be held with Amritsar police commissioner SS Srivastava on August 5.
PROTESTS IN MUKTSAR
MUKTSAR: Four farmers associations protested in front of DC office in Muktsar. Farmer leaders alleged that the Congress government did not fulfil their his poll promise regarding the complete debt waiver.
President Bharti Kisan Union Ekta Sukhdev Singh Sidhu demanded the crop prices to be fixed according to Swaminathan commission report. Farmer leaders also submitted a memorandum to nayab tehsildar Charanjeet Singh.
FARMERS DEMAND LOAN WAIVER
BATHINDA: The farmers under the banner of four unions protested here on Thursday. Four farmer unions including Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) (Ekta-Sidhupur), BKU (Kadian), Pagari Sambhal Jatta Lehar and Sangharsh Committee Doaba staged a protest as a part of the statewide protests.
The protesters also submitted a memorandum to deputy commissioner.
The farmers raised their demands which included waiver of farm debt, implementation of recommendations of Swaminathan Commission.
The protesting farmers also demanded excluding agriculture related items including agriculture implements, pesticides and insecticides from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and to resolve the problem of stray cattle damaging the crops.
The farmers under the unions will also resort to court arrest from August 9-15 if their demands are not met.