Alternative arrangements for Bargari farmers to sell paddy

A SITIN BY PARALLEL JATHEDARS AGAINST THE DESECRATION OF GURU GRANTH SAHIB IS GOING ON FOR THREE MONTHS AT THE BARGARI GRAIN MARKET

FARIDKOT : The district administration here has written to the Punjab mandi board to make alternative arrangements for Bargari farmers where they can sell their paddy as the grain market in the village is under siege of the protesters. A sit-in spearheaded by parallel jathedars against the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib is going on for the last more than three months at the Bargari grain market.

Confirming the development, Faridkot district mandi officer Kulbir Singh Matta said they plan to make alternative arrangement by taking land on lease or ask the farmers to sell their produce in the grain markets that are within a 3-km radius. “Bargari grain market only cater to its own farmers as nearby villages have their own. We are committed that farmers will not face any inconvenience while selling paddy,” he said. Every year, different government agencies purchase up to 90,000 quintal paddy from the Bargari grain market alone. Sharp dip in visitors at protest site

A sharp dip in visitors has been witnessed at the Bargari sit-in for the last three days. Against an average daily influx of 3,000 till a few days ago, only 500-600 visitors are reaching the site for the last three days.

Parallel jathedar of Talwandi Sabo Baljit Singh Daduwal said people are busy in the paddy season. He, however, said there will be no decline in the number of visitors during weekends. Daduwal said there was a malicious attempt by their opponents to spread rumours.

Another leader Jagdeep Singh Khalsa said some people were busy in the ongoing Baba Farid annual festival in Faridkot, while others are busy in another religious function in Jaitu.