Punjab: Farmers to lift dharna outside CM Bhagwant Mann's house in Sangrur on Oct 29

Patiala, October 28: Following a meeting with Punjab Minister of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal at Circuit House in Patiala on Friday, the BKU (Ekta-Ugraha), led by Joginder Singh Ugrahan, announced to lift dharna outside Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's residence in Sangrur on Saturday (October 29). Addressing mediapersons after the meeting with Cabinet minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan said an agreement had reached between the Punjab Government and the BKU (Ekta-Ugraha) and the dharna would be lifted on October 29. He said they had planned a huge gathering in Sangrur on Saturday, where he would read out the letter of demands signed by the Punjab Cabinet minister and thereafter the dharna would be lifted. [caption id="attachment_710688" align="aligncenter"] Punjab Minister of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal in Patiala on October 28.[/caption] Also Read | In Jaipur's Gulmohar society, these four robots work as fire-fighters, receptionists and cleaners  Joginder Singh Ugrahan said Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal had given them a written assurance that demands would be accepted at the earliest. Joginder Singh Ugrahan said although an agreement was reached during a meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on October 7 also, but they did not get anything in writing. On Friday,  Kuldeep Dhaliwal gave them a written assurance, following which they decided to lift the dharna on Saturday. The meeting was attended by Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, senior farmer leader Jagtar Singh Kalajhar, Jhanda Singh Jethuke, Shangara Singh and Roop Singh Chhanna; IG Jatinder Singh Aulakh, IG, Patiala Range, Mukhwinder Singh Chhina, Deputy Commissioner Sangrur Jatinder Jorwal and SSP, Sangrur, Mandeep Singh Sidhu. Notably, farmers, under the banner of the BKU (Ugrahan), had launched an indefinite protest near the residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on the Patiala road in Sangrur on October 9. Also Read | Punjab's Ludhiana district worst hit by swine flu; 54 cases and 11 deaths in two months  The farmers are seeking the implementation of demands accepted by Punjab as well as the Central Government. The main demands included relief for damaged crops and for the death of their cows due to lumpy skin disease;  hike in land acquisition compensation; closure of a liquor manufacturing unit at Mansurwal village near Zira and the cancellation of cases registered against farmers for burning stubble. They are also demanding a bonus of Rs 200 per quintal for the management of stubble. Also Read | Elon Musk's next move: Replacement of Parag Agrawal as CEO, reversing ban on users [caption id="attachment_710711" align="aligncenter"] Farmers camping outside the residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Sangrur.[/caption] -PTC News with inputs by Gagandeep Ahuja