Farmers accuse Punjab govt of turning a deaf ear; lodge protest
More than 700 farmers protested in front of cooperative bank and also blocked the main market in Sangrur on Tuesday. The farmers have adopted this new way of protest by blocking the main markets of the city.
More than 700 farmers protested in front of cooperative bank and also blocked the main market in Sangrur on Tuesday. The farmers have adopted this new way of protest by blocking the main markets of the city.
The shopkeepers within Patiala Gate to Bada Chowk road had a bad day at business as the road was blocked by the agitating farmers. Farmers unfurled flags while shouting anti-government slogans during protest. They were distraught due to indifferent approach of the government towards them.
A farmer Jagroop Singh said, “Government has turned a deaf ear to our demands as we have not received any response on the demand of Rs 40000 per acre as compensation for the loss of cotton crop due to whitefly and Rs 20000 to farm laborers.”
“We also demand that the high interest loans taken by farmers should be waived off and the sugarcane growers should get their dues as soon as possible,” he added.
Singh further said that the government should also make special policies through which the farmers can get low interest rate loans for buying new equipments and other agricultural requirements.
Besides this, the sons of the soil also demanded a bonus to the basmati growers as they faced huge losses due to low prices of these crops. Singh complained, “When farmers have to sell the crops the government immediately lowers the prices but when it comes to selling the same to the consumers the market prices are hiked.”
Beant Singh, a farmer of Balian village said, “It is a pity that because of the disastrous policies of our government the only bread winners of so many rural families are left with no choice but to kill themselves.”