Tribune News Service
Sonepat, October 1
Enraged over the Centre’s decision to delay paddy procurement in Punjab and Haryana by 10 days, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Friday gave a call to gherao residences of MPs and MLAs of the BJP and JJP (ruling parties) in Haryana and MLAs of the Congress in Punjab from Saturday morning till the government starts paddy procurement.
This was decided at a meeting of a nine-member committee of the SKM at Singhu border on Friday evening.
The Centre on Thursday had postponed paddy procurement in Punjab and Haryana till October 11. On this, the SKM stated that they would hold protests in Punjab and Haryana from Saturday till the government starts the procurement process.
SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said farmers are annoyed with the Centre’s decision in both states. The duty of the government is to make arrangements for procurement on time. The SKM has decided today to protest against the government’s decision, he added.
Rajewal appealed to all farmer unions to gherao residences of BJP-JJP MPs and MLAs from tomorrow (Saturday) in Haryana and residences of Congress MLAs in Punjab.
Earlier, it was decided to gherao DC offices in Punjab. But as offices would be closed on the next two days, the programme was changed, Rajewal added.
Gurnam Singh Charuni, Haryana farmer leader, said that it was decided in the nine-member committee of the SKM on Friday to launch the protest from Saturday.
The Centre has not only delayed procurement but also limited procurement to 25 quintals per acre in Haryana. That could not be tolerated, he said.
Charuni appealed to all farmer unions to gherao the residences of BJP-JJP’s MPs and MLAs at 10 am tomorrow in the state. He said that the dharna would continue till the government rolls back its “anti-farmer” decisions.
Dr Darshan Pal Singh, president, Krantikari Kisan Union, said that the protest would continue till the government starts paddy procurement; does not remove the limit on the procurement of paddy and millet (bajra) and gives compensation for the loss in cotton crop due to heavy rain.
Morcha members to fast on Gandhi Jayanti
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha said day-long fasts would be observed on Saturday to mark Gandhi Jayanti. The SKM said it always maintained that the highways leading to Delhi had been blocked by the BJP government’s police. There had been extensive damage to cotton crop in Punjab and Haryana due to pink bollworm, so the government should immediately compensate farmers for the loss, the SKM demanded.
SKM to gherao homes of ruling party MLAs, MPs in Punjab, Haryana from today
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