FARMERS TO HOLD SIT-IN AGAINST RISING FUEL PRICES

LUDHIANA : Upset over rising fuel prices, the Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) on Monday announced to hold a sit-in across the state on December 17.

Addressing the farmers and office-bearers of the union, president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said the farmers will have to bear the financial burden of rising fuel prices in the ongoing wheat sowing season. “The price of fuel in Punjab is much higher than mots of the states. Even the neighbouring states like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh have lower prices of diesel and petrol. The Centre should bring fuel prices under Goods and Service Tax (GST),” said Lakhowal.

He urged the state government to provide an incentive of ₹500 per quintal to wheat growers as the delay in sowing will result in less produce.

“The state government’s decision to delay sowing of paddy resulted in low yield. We fear that similar thing may happen in case of wheat crop during harvest. Similarly, the sugarcane growers in the state are still waiting for their last year’s outstanding payment from the mill owners. The government should also reopen the private sugar mills in the state to help the debt-ridden farmers who are forced to commit suicide,” said Lakhowal.

“The government should push for a bill in the Rajya Sabha for legalising poppy farming in the state. It will improve the financial condition of farmers and will help in saving the youth of Punjab from synthetic drug abuse, he added.