Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Farmers gherao police station, 109 held

- HT Correspond­ent

FARIDKOT: The local police arrested 109 farmers after they gheraoed the city police station in Faridkot on Thursday. The farmers were protesting against the government for not adhering with their demands including complete waiver of their debts and implementa­tion of Prof MS Swaminatha­n report.

Farmers said that the report includes suggestion­s for the welfare of farmers but government is hesitant to implement the report. State president of Bharti Kisan Union (Sidhupura) Jagjit Singh said, there can be no end to suicides by aggrieved farmers if the recommenda­tions are not implemente­d.

The farmers were arrested after they refused to leave the spot. Deputy superinten­dent of police (DSP) Jastinder Singh left his office as journalist­s sought his comments on the issue. He said that he cannot comment on the issue as he doesn't want to give any limelight to the protesting farmers.

FARMERS’ PROTEST ENTERS DAY TWO

BATHINDA: Continuing their protest demanding farm debt waiver and implementa­tion of recommenda­tions of Swaminatha­n Commission report, farmers under the banner of four unions courted arrest on Thursday. On day two, farmers protested in front of the district administra­tive complex, and were arrested by the police. The farmers were taken to Civil Lines police station.

They are protesting under four farmer unions — BKU (Ekta-Sidhupur), BKU (Kadian), Pagari Sambhal Jatta Lehar and Sangharsah Committee Doaba — from August 9 to August 15, across Punjab.

MANSA FARMERS COURT ARREST, SEEK WAIVER MANSA: Mansa farmers courted their arrest, protesting against whitefly attack and delay in the implementa­tion of Swaminatha­n commission report in Mansa on Wednesday. The farmers of Bharti Kisan Union (BKU Sidhupur) have been protesting in Mansa for the past two days. Since then, 39 farmers have courted arrest demanding debt waiver and government interventi­on to save cotton crop from whitefly attack.

“It is a nation-wide jail bharo andolan (court arrest) led by many farmer unions, demanding implementa­tion of Swaminatha­n commission report. We want the interventi­on of state government to address the issue of whitefly attack on cotton crop in the region. We have submitted a memorandum to the deputy commission­er, but will court arrest till Sunday,” said Bhog Singh, a protester. The farmers were later granted bail by the court of subdivisio­nal magistrate (SDM).

AMARINDER TO VISIT WHITEFLY-HIT AREAS Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh will visit the whitefly affected cotton fields in Mansa on Thursday. Confirming the schedule, deputy commission­er (DC) Dharam Pal Gupta said that the chief minister will visit five villages that have reported maximum presence of whitefly in the cotton fields. MUKTSAR: The arthiyas of Punjab are not showing any interest in the loan waiver of farmers and are not ready to open their ledgers regarding this issue.

“Money lent by the arthiyas to the farmers is not debt, it is a help provided to the farmers by the arthiyas in their tough times,” said Vijay Kalra, state president, Arthiyas Associatio­n of Punjab, adding, “Farmers have a deep bond with the arthiyas.”

When asked about farm loan waiver taken from arthiyas, Kalra said that they will welcome the step if government pays back the amount to the arthiyas.

He said that some rice millers across state, are not clearing payments of the arthiyas. “We are giving an ultimatum to the rice millers to clear the payments by August 31. If they fail to do so, we will intensify the protest.” Kalra welcomed the decision of state government to dissolve truck unions.

A farmer leader Avtar Singh Wattu alleged that the arthiyas lend money at high rate of interest and with compound interest, their amount becomes double in a few years. Farmers are blaming the arthiyas for their plight and committing suicides.

 ?? SANJEEV KUMAR/HT ?? Farmers protesting opposite the minisecret­ariat in Bathinda on Thursday.
SANJEEV KUMAR/HT Farmers protesting opposite the minisecret­ariat in Bathinda on Thursday.

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