Farmers' protest: Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee to launch fresh stir against Punjab Govt on Sept 24
PTC Web Desk: The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee has announced plans to launch a fresh protest against the Punjab Government, starting on September 24. Addressing a press conference in Amritsar, committee leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmers would stage sit-ins outside the offices of Deputy Commissioners (DCs) across the state. If their demands were not met promptly, they planned to escalate the protest by blocking railway tracks.
Pandher said while the farmers had been engaged in a prolonged struggle against the Central Government, they did not initially intend to target the state government. However, he said the Punjab Government's alleged inaction had forced them to take this step. "If the government does not address our demands, we will intensify the agitation, starting from the Amritsar DC office and potentially leading to a blockade of trains," Pandher warned.
As part of the upcoming protest, farmers will also submit a memorandum of demands and meet senior police officials to present their concerns. One of the key grievances is the lack of compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during earlier protests. Sarwan Singh Pandher said apart from support for two to four families, most were yet to receive any financial assistance.
Pandher also raised the issue of failed samples of DAP fertiliser from one of the largest farms in Punjab, with no corrective action taken by the Punjab Government. He also accused the authorities of failing to curb the sale of DAP fertiliser on the black market during the wheat season, a time when farmers were most in need of it.
Another major issue raised by the farmers is the acquisition of land for the Jammu-Katra Highway. Pandher claimed that the rates being offered to farmers for their land are unjustly low, calling it an outright injustice. "Farmers are not only losing their land, but they are also being mistreated by the administration," he added.
Pandher also criticised the government's lack of action on the stubble burning issue, stating that no initiatives have been taken to provide bonuses to farmers for managing crop residue. He also highlighted concerns over the contamination of water in certain areas of Amritsar due to nearby factories. Despite protests over the issue, Pandher claimed the government has failed to act.
The committee leader made it clear that the farmers have been left with no choice but to escalate their protests against the Punjab Government, in addition to their ongoing struggle against the central government.
- With inputs from our correspondent
