Animal protection association, farmers to stage dharna against govt on July 15

Amritsar, July 10

The Anti-Crime and Animal Protection Association headed by Dr Rohan Mehra along with the Dairy Farmers’ Association on Sunday threatened to stage a demonstration and burn the effigy of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in protest against the unavailability of dry fodder for milch animals.

He alleged that dry fodder was being diverted to industrial units leading to its scarcity for milch animals.

Sukhchain Singh Bajwa, vice-president of the Dairy Farmers’ Association, said they had submitted memorandums to the Punjab CM and MLAs. In Amritsar, they handed over the memorandums to five MLAs while detailing them about the problem of shortage of dry fodder and seeking urgent steps from their side. However, nothing had been done so far. He alleged that the problem was also taken up with the Deputy Commissioners.

Dr Mehra said the government had turned a blind eye to the problem of milch animals. He said when dairy farmers failed to find any response from the government, they sought the help of the Anti-Crime and Animal Protection group.

He said the association would stand with the dairy farmers and announced to hold a protest dharna at the Hall Gate area against the government on July 15. He said they would burn the effigy of the Punjab CM. He said the government had failed to make urgent arrangements for dry fodder. He said small farmers, dairy farmers and the authorities of cow shelters would remain present during the agitation.