Protesting at Phagwara NH, sugarcane growers threaten to block rail tracks too
Jalandhar, November 22
Demanding a hike in the State Agreed Price (SAP) of sugarcane, members of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) continued to block the Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway for the second day on Wednesday.
Thousands of vehicles on this stretch were diverted to bypass the dharna site.
Vehicles diverted
- The report of cancellation of the meeting and a tweet by the Chief Minister has reportedly irked farmers
- Thousands of vehicles on Jalandhar-Phagwara stretch were diverted to bypass the dharna site
The protesting farmers said they were expecting some outcome from a meeting of the Sugarcane Control Board that was to be convened by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today in Chandigarh.
The report of cancellation of the meeting and a tweet by the CM has reportedly irked farmers who threatened to block the railway tracks adjacent to the dharna site near Dhannowali village.
The CM tweeted, “I urge farm unions not to turn common people against you by blocking roads on every issue. If you want to discuss any issue with the government, the right place is not the road but Punjab Bhawan, Secretariat, office of the Agriculture Minister, CM’s office and home. If you maintain this attitude, the day is not far when you will not find public support.”
Manjit Singh Rai, president, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Doaba), who is leading the protest, said, “We are feeling betrayed. All senior officers from the police and district administration had assured us that the CM will take a favourable decision in the meeting today, but nothing happened.”
“On top of it, we got this tweet from the CM. We will wait for a government response till tomorrow morning, failing which we will block railway tracks,” he said.
Speaking on low number of protesters today, he said the SKM leaders were away for a meeting to Chandigarh. “We were expecting a positive outcome from the meeting of the Sugarcane Control Board. As nothing has happened, they will join us tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma visited the dharna spot this evening.
