Farmers Movement Archive

BKU activists launch indefinite dharna against farm bill, pending cane dues

RAMPUR/BIJNOR: Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) on Monday launched a state-level agitation against the new farm bills and to demand clearance of cane dues, with hundreds of activists setting up an indefinite dharna at the collectorate premises across the state. If their demands are not met, the agitators threatened they will celebrate all festivals inside the premises, disrupting regular work. In Rampur, hundreds of farmers on bullock carts and tractor trolleys gathered at the collectorate under BKU’s banner to protest against the three farm reform bills — The Farmers’ Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill — passed by the Parliament. Rampur BKU district president Haseeb Ahmad said, “Farmers have been in financial distress since the pandemic outbreak and lockdown. Now, on top of the sugarcane dues, Parliament has passed bills that will ruin their lives,” adding, “The dharna will continue till the Union government withdraws these anti-farmer bills.” Across the state, sugarcane crushing season has begun, with 35 sugar mills out of 119 having started operations. But according to an official, though the mills have paid off around Rs 29,000 crore dues from last season, they still collectively owe Rs 66,000crore to 40 lakh sugarcane growers in UP, which has pushed many of the latter to the brink of poverty. Some farmers have even been forced to take loans on Kisan Credit Cards to make both ends meet. Across the state in Bijnor, scores of cane farmers led by state president of BKU’s youth wing, Digambar Singh, marched towards the Bijnor collectorate and pitched tent inside its premises on Monday. Singh said, “The government has failed to get mills to clear cane dues on time, pushing farmers into financial distress. They need money to pay labourers for harvesting cane, but are being forced to take banks loans to run their families instead. Farmers co-operated with the government during the lockdown by not demanding their dues. But, although the lockdown is over, mills are still not paying up.” “Many farmers are being unable to pay school fees of their children. On top of that, festive season has arrived. But the government is not feeling their pain,” Singh added. Some farmers said, “Crushing season has begun, but the state advised price (SAP) is yet to be cleared. We’ve demanded that the new SAP be hiked from Rs 325 to Rs 450 per quintal. We’re also against the new ‘anti farmer’ farm bills. We’ve told the administration that if our demands are not met, we’ll celebrate all our festivals inside the collectorate premises.” A state-level cane officer, on condition of anonymity, told TOI a meeting to decide the new SAP will be held soon, and that the state government is taking steps to get mills to clear their dues.” (With inputs from Harveer Dabas in Bijnor)

The Times of India

2020-11-03

Bareilly