Farmers protest demanding complete loan waiver ›
The state’s debt waiver scheme is a joke with farmers. We will continue our protest and will also take it to the state level until the government clears the entire debt. DHANWANTSINGH, president, Krantikari Kisan Union
BATHINDA : Hundreds of farmers under the banner of seven farm unions protested against the state government on Wednesday, demanding complete farm loan waiver and enhanced compensation for families of farmers who had committed suicide, besides several other demands.
The protesting organisations — BKU (Ekta – Ugrahan), BKU (Ekta – Dakaundha, BKU (Krantikari), Krantikari Kisan Union, Kirit Kisan Union, Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Azaad Kisan Sangharsh Committee, and BKU (Krantikari) Punjab — also submitted a memorandum to deputy commissioner Diprava Lakra on their demands.
“During campaigning for assembly polls, the Congress had promised to waive every type of farm loan including that taken from commission agents. A job to one person in every household was also promised. Nothing has been fulfilled,” protesters claimed.
On the farm loan waiver, protesters claimed that with the conditions that the government had imposed, few farmers will benefit from it. Their other demands were that families of farm suicide victims should be provided compensation of ₹10 lakh and a job to one family member. They also demanded the implementation of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission. The government must also help farmers in solving the menace of stray cattle and stubble burning, the protesters demanded.
PROTEST OUTSIDE AMRITSAR DC OFFICE
Amritsar Farmers in the organised a four-hour protest outside the deputy commissioner’s office, again seeking complete farm debt waiver.
Dhanwant Singh, president of Krantikari Kisan Union, said, “The state government’s debt waiver scheme is a joke with farmers. We will continue our protest and will also take it to the state level until the government clears the entire debt.
The Congress has not fulfilled a single pre-poll promise in seven months,” he claimed. Bachittar Singh Kotli, Dr Kuldeep Singh, Baldev Singh Sandhu, Hira Singh also addressed the farmers.