Bathinda: Farmer organisations BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) and BKU (Ekta Dakaunda) have announced a joint protest in Chandigarh on July 4, accusing both the Punjab and Union governments of ignoring their demands and victimising protesting groups.
Decision taken at joint meeting
The decision was taken at a joint meeting of leaders of the two organisations in Barnala on Sunday. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan and BKU (Ekta Dakaunda) president Manjit Singh Dhaner alleged that repeated representations on various issues had failed to elicit a response from either government.
Allegations against Centre and state
They accused the Centre of undermining Punjab's rights on issues such as river waters and dam management, while alleging that the Punjab government had failed to effectively defend the state's interests. The farm leaders said there was still no legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops despite repeated emphasis on crop diversification. They also raised the issue of farm loan waiver.
Criticism of Punjab government
Targeting the Punjab government, they alleged that farmers were not receiving the full benefits of the cooperative sector, claiming enhanced crop loan limits through primary agriculture cooperative societies were not being extended to cultivators. The leaders further alleged that farmers' concerns during floods and breaches did not receive adequate attention, while enforcement measures intensified during the crop residue burning season.
Demands and next steps
They said the Punjab government should address issues falling within its jurisdiction and strongly pursue matters concerning farmers' interests before the Union government. The joint protest is expected to draw large participation from farmers across the state.
