BKU Dakaunda factions protest over crop damage due to untimely rain

It was a protest day in Sangrur as members of the Dhaner-led union marched on the roads of the city as they walked towards Dreamland colony on Sangrur-Patiala road. At the same time, BKU Dakaunda (Burjgill) was sitting outside the CAO office in Sangrur.

Members of BKU Dakaunda stage a dharna on Sangrur -Patiala road.

3 min readLudhianaApr 7, 2023 09:58 AM IST First published on: Apr 7, 2023 at 09:25 AM IST

Two factions of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Dakaunda organised protests in various districts of Punjab on Thursday over the issue of crop damage due to untimely rain.

While BKU Dakaunda led by president Buta Singh Burjgill staged dharnas outside the offices of chief agriculture officer (CAO) in Malwa districts of Punjab, a faction of BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner) led by Manjit Singh Dhaner staged a dharna outside Dreamland colony in Sangrur where Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has a rented accommodation.

It was a protest day in Sangrur as members of the Dhaner-led union marched on the roads of the city as they walked towards Dreamland colony on Sangrur-Patiala road. At the same time, BKU Dakaunda (Burjgill) was sitting outside the CAO office in Sangrur.

BKU Dakaunda (Burjgill) staged a dharna outside the CAO office in Sangrur, Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala, Moga, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Patiala and Ludhiana as well.

Harnek Singh Mehma, general secretary of BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner), said, “No ‘girdawari’ (crop harvest inspection) is happening in fields, while MLAs are just posing pictures in the fields with damaged crops. Agriculture officers are too slow in their work, while Punjab CM is giving statements that he has enhanced the compensation. In November 2021, the then Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi had announced Rs 17,000 per acre compensation for cotton crop damaged due to pink bollworm, then how come the current Punjab Chief Minister is saying that Rs 15,000 per acre is an enhanced compensation.

While ‘girdawari’ is not happening, patwaris are asking details of the area affected due to hailstorm. What about the wheat crop affected due to rain?” Jagmohan Singh Patiala, general secretary of BKU Dakaunda, said, “AAP in its poll manifesto had stated that it will give Rs 20,000 per acre compensation to the farmers on the lines of Delhi and a part of compensation will reach them much before the ‘girdawari’ reports are submitted as they take a long time to complete.

But where is that poll promise? At the same time, the agriculture staff are too slow in the field and we had no choice but to lodge protest. Moreover, Rs 15,000 per acre compensation is very less, it shouldn’t be less than Rs 20,000 per acre.”

It may be noted that the Channi government had first increased the compensation from Rs 12,000 per acre to Rs 15,000 per acre. But later after meeting with 32 farmer unions, it was further enhanced to Rs 17,000 per acre. However, at the time AAP MLAs had rejected this amount and they had demanded Rs 20,000 per acre for farmers.

Narain Dutt, member of BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner), said, “Senior AAP leader Kultar Singh Sandhwan had sought this amount in 2021 for farmers. Now, his party has formed the government in Punjab, so why is it not taking the lead in compensating the farmers with Rs 50,000 per acre?”

Meanwhile, Burjgill-led BKU Dakaunda will continue protests outside CAO offices on April 7 as well. The Punjab CM had announced that the first cheque for compensation will be given by April 15.