Farm outfits converge on protest site, set up camp
Mohali: Thousands of farmers under the banner of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) arrived in Mohali, ready to set up camp. They came with stocks of foodgrain and vegetables to be used in community kitchens. The three-day dharna began with the demand for MSP and purchase guarantee law, besides waiver of loans and MSP on sugarcane. Farmers wanted to march towards the CM’s residence in Chandigarh but could not do so because of heavy barricading by Chandigarh and Mohali Police.
Around 2,000 farmers came with 100 to 125 tractor trolleys, some stocked with provisions, coolers and tents to set up community kitchens.
Farmers of Punjab under the SKM have staged a “pucca mocha” on the lines of the Delhi protest at the Mohali-Chandigarh border in protest against the Punjab government. They blocked the road between Phase 11 and Jagatpura crossing in Mohali late on Saturday evening, accusing the AAP government of reneging on election promises.
Farmers said that they were holding an indefinite protest to press their demands related to sugarcane prices and MSP. They also expressed their opposition to the state government’s decision of allowing paddy sowing in a staggered manner. BKU (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal and farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal led the protest. Farmer unions want hike in sugarcane assured price from Rs 380 to Rs 450 per quintal, single window and counter payment at sugar mills, compensation for sugarcane crop damaged by floods and start of crushing at sugar mills. SKM activist Manjit Singh Rai said that they had warned the government that they would march towards the residence of the Punjab CM if their demands were not met.
