Farmers Movement Archive

Now, Tikri-like protest site comes up in Sangrur

Tribune News ServiceSangrur, December 21To participate in the five-day protest in front of DC offices, farmers under the banner of the BKU Ugrahan have come prepared for a long battle against the state government, as at Tikri and Singhu borders against the farm laws.They have equipped their tractor-trailers with all essential commodities and special committees of villages are again back to work to mobilise support and ensure supply of milk and other items at the protest site.“We will compel the state government to accept our long-pending demands. The year-long agitation against the central farm laws has taught us ways to survive in toughest circumstances. We have asked our union to start indefinite protests at all DC offices like we did in New Delhi,” said Narinder Singh, a farmer from Chhajli village, while sitting in his tractor-trailer at the Sangrur protest.Majority of farmers, who spoke to The Tribune, confirmed that they had requested their leaders to intensify the agitation to get some quick relief from the state government as elections were approaching.“We are hopeful that the state government will accept our long-pending demands as majority of farmers are already under huge debt and committing suicides,” said Ram Singh, another farmer from Namol.With the farmers parking their vehicles on both sides of the Sangrur DC office road from bus stand to PWD rest house, inside Ranbir Club and in front of residences of senior officers, the protest has taken a big shape.Members of various committees have been working hard to ensure the supply of milk and other essential commodities from villages. Langar of tea and food has stared while many farmers have also been preferring to cook their meal near their trailers.Their main demands include Rs 17,000 per acre financial aid to farmers who have suffered crop loss and its 10 per cent payment to labourers, guaranteed Rs 360 per quintal of sugarcane from each sugar mill, Rs 3 lakh financial aid to families of labourers and farmers who have committed suicide and complete debt waiver and a government job to their kin, cancellation of FIRs registered against protesting farmers, etc.Two officials ‘held hostage’Fatehgarh Sahib: Irked over urea shortage, farmers gheraoed the DC office here. The PA to the Agriculture Minister, who had come here for some work, was held hostage. When the minister came to know about the incident, he sent the Agriculture Director to the spot, who too was kept there for over five hours. Both of them were released on the DC’s intervention. OC

The Tribune

2021-12-22