Patiala, October 14
Members of seven farmers’ organisations led by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) blocked traffic on the Mall road here when a strong police force prevented them from entering the office compound of the Deputy Commissioner.
Farmers during a dharna
held near the office of the Deputy Commissioner at Bathinda on
Monday.
— Photo Kulbir Beera
|
BKU (Ekta) General Secretary Gurmit Singh Dittupur said farmers would not rest until the government bowed down to their demand and fixed the maximum support price of paddy at Rs 760 a quintal. He said the Centre should also give a bonus of Rs 100 a quintal to farmers keeping in view the increased cost of production due to drought-like conditions in the state.
Other leaders, including Prem Singh Bhangu of the Kul Hind Kirti Kisan Sabha, Gurdarshan Singh Khattra of the Kheti Baari and the Kisan Vikas Front Harbhajan Singh Buttar of the Mazdoor Kisan Sabha and Sukhdev Singh Jalan of the Punjab Kisan Sabha also demanded that the free facility given to agricultural sector should be maintained.
AMRITSAR: Members of seven farmers’ associations gheraoed the Deputy Commissioner’s residence and presented a memorandum of their demands.
Farmers marched from Company Garden to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.S. Puri’s official residence and staged a dharna there.
ROPAR: Members of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, the All-India Kirti Kisan Sabha, the Agargami Kisan Sabha, and the Punjab Kisan Sabha blocked traffic for more than half-an-hour in front of the main gate of the district administrative complex here and held a dharna on the road when the police stopped them from entering into the complex. Earlier, they had a rally at the main gate of Ranjit Bagh which was addressed among others by Mr Mohan Singh Dhamana, President, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, Ropar and Mr Malkit Singh, convener of the All-India Kirti Kisan Sabha.
JALANDHAR: On a call given by Joint Action Committee of seven farmers’ organisations, hundreds of farmers on Monday gheraoed the office of the Deputy Commissioner here. They demanded that the government should fix MSP to Rs 750 a quintal and should announce a bonus of Rs 100 a quintal to paddy growers.
MANSA: More than 500 farmers led by Mr Ruldu Singh, senior vice-president of the state unit of the Bharati Kisan Union (Ekta), staged a dharna and blocked traffic on the road leading to the administrative complex. However, they were prevented from proceeding to the Deputy Commissioner’s office by the police.
GURDASPUR: The police foiled attempts by farmers to gherao the office of the Deputy
Commissioner on Monday to protest against the apathy of the state as well as the Central Government towards demands of farmers. Several hundred farmers owing allegiance to the Jamhuri Kisan Sabha, the Kirti Kisan Union, the Kisan Sabha (Punjab) and both units of Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) marched in a procession to the district courts to gherao the office of the Deputy Commissioner. Speakers who addressed the rally included Mr Ajit Singh Thakkar Sandhu, Mr Jagjit Singh, both leaders of the Jamhuri Kisan Union, Mr Channan Singh Dorangla of the Kirti Kisan Union, Mr Lakhbir Singh of the Kisan Sabha (Punjab) and Mr Darbara Singh of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta).
BATHINDA:
Various Kisan unions on Monday asked leaders of different parties not to draw political mileage from problems of farmers. During a dharna near the office of the Deputy Commissioner here the kisan leaders said that Capt Amarinder Singh and Mr Parkash Singh Badal, were trying to misguide farmers by claiming to be working for their welfare.
Leaders of the BKU (E) Ugrahan and the Sidhupur faction, the Kirti Kisan Union, the Kul Hind Kirti Kisan Sabha, the Punjab Kisan Sabha, the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, the Khetibari and Kisan Vikas Front took part in the dharna.
HOSHIARPUR:
The Democratic Kisan Sabha here led by Mr Amrik Singh and Mr Ganga Parshad presented a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Monday. The Sabha demanded Rs 760 a quintal support price for paddy and a bonus of Rs 100 a quintal for paddy.
FARIDKOT: A large number of farmers of various kisan organisation like the Bharti Kisan Union, (Ekta), the Kheti Bari Kisan Vikas Front and the Democratic Kisan Organisation held a rally at the Mini Secretariat here on Monday. Addressing the protesters Mr Major Singh district unit president of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) said a meeting of the senior representatives of the body had been convened at Gurdwara Mastuana in Sangrur district on October 19 to decide the further course of action.
