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Farmers plan to picket Governor's house

Staff Correspondent

Threaten to intensify agitation if demands are not met

CHANDIGARH: Irked by the Punjab Government's callous attitude, five farmers' organisations have announced a programme to picket the Governor's residence on September 26 in support of their long- pending demands.

This was announced on Monday evening by the leaders of Ekta faction of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, All India Kirti Kisan Sabha, Punjab Kisan Sabha and Khetibari Kisan Vikas Front. At least four of these organisations owe their allegiance to the Left ideology. They have threatened to intensify their stir in case their demands were not met.

Poll promises

Talking to reporters, Peshaura Singh Sidhupur of the BKU said that the organisations were forced to resort to picketing the Governor's residence after the State Government remained inert to their joint protest demonstrations at headquarters of 14 districts and 65 sub-divisions. He said that the present Congress Government had failed to fulfil the promises made to the farmers in the 2002 party manifesto.

Mr. Sidhupur said that the decision of the Government to allow free electricity to farmers was the direct victory of the prolonged agitation by the peasants across the State. However, he dismissed the announcement as inadequate and delayed as the Government had made the promise almost four years ago. He said that the organisations were unanimous in seeking a refund of the electricity bills paid since 2002 when the concession was withdrawn.

Speaking on behalf of other organisations as well, Mr. Sidhupur demanded that the State Government must ensure that tariff on irrigation water, through any means, to the farm sector was waived off. He sought that the diesel be provided at subsidised rates and also demanded immediate payment of the bonus on paddy which had been promised by the Congress in 2002 as well as release of dues pending with the Co-operative sugar mills, which amounted to Rs 63 crores.

The All India Kirti Kisan Sabha general secretary, Prem Singh Bhangu, demanded striking off all debts against the farmers and said that agriculture had not remained a profitable proposition due to the faulty policy decisions of the Union as well as the State Governments. He also sought parity in lending rates for agriculture and industry sectors as well as immediate stay on the operation of the various clauses of the Punjab Co-operative Societies Act under which farmers were being arrested and dispossessed of their lands in case of inability to return their loans.

Diversification plan

Another peasant leader, Gurdarshan Singh Khatra, was of the opinion that farmers had suffered more losses due to the faulted diversification programme of the State Government.

He said that farmers were willing to accept any proposal if the State Government provided facilities similar to those given during the `green revolution'. He listed assured price and marketing for the produce as the pre-conditions for the success of any crop-diversification plan.

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Farmers plan to picket Governor's house

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