Bhagwant Mann holding AAP de Dwaar but not making agri policy for us even when we are sitting at govt doorstep

Farmers said that they had earlier intimidated the government about their protest, which comes on the day the AAP government is Punjab started its public outreach programme AAP di Sarkar AAP de Dwaar.

Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan, general secretary of BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), said that despite the harsh weather, their members have started the protest against the Punjab government’s farmer and labour policies, debt relief issues, and other agricultural matters. “We have started a five-day sit-in protest in front of DC offices across several districts in of Punjab and thousands of farmers and farm labourers, including women and youth, from 16 districts have joined the protest. It has been a year now that CM Bhagwant Mann had announced that his government will be formulating an agriculture policy but he kept deferring his own set deadlines repeatedly and we still don’t have a policy. We also gave our suggestions for the policy on February 27, 2023 after a meeting with the then agriculture minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal,” he said, adding that the CM needs to explain the delay to us.

Saudagar Singh Ghudani, president of BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) Ludhiana unit, said that the CM had organised several Kisan milnis to take feedback from farmers for this agriculture policy and the first one had started from Ludhiana in February last year. “If farmers and labourers are sitting at district headquarters complaining about the performance of the government…what are you trying to tell in your self proclaimed programme of Sarkar aap de dwar,” he asked.

Joginder Singh Ugrahan, state president of BKU Ugrahan, added that farmers are the backbone of the society and are enduring severe hardships despite promises made by the government. “We demand relief for indebted farmers, compensation for families of farmer suicide victims, and stringent action against drug abuse and violence. Other demands include immediate payment of dues to sugarcane growers, crop insurance against crop damage, providing permanent jobs,” he said.

Harinder Kaur Bindu, president of women wing of BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), said that several villages in Punjab still don’t get adequate water for irrigation at the tail ends but the government keeps making false claims. “We demand water supply and also the withdrawal of environmental compensation imposed on farmers for stubble burning as farmers are forced to burn stubble due to government mismanagement,” she said.

Senior vice-president of the union Jhanda Singh Jethuke added that the protest also aims to address issues related to compensation of crops damaged due to hailstorm and pink bollworm attack.

Protests are being organised in Bathinda, Moga, Barnala, Mansa, Muktsar, Sangrur, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Ludhiana, Patiala and Amritsar districts among others. Food, trolleys with beddings and other necessary arrangements have all been made.