Damage To Wheat Crop: To press for full MSP as compensation, BKU Ekta Ugrahan to block rail traffic

“The crops have been destroyed in Punjab and it should be declared as national calamity because politicians from across the country and from all parties call farmers “anndaata” and foodgrains from Punjab are transported to several states and feed countrymen. It is even exported to other countries. So why it cannot be declared as a national calamity,” asked Kokri Kalan.

He added that they want to “put pressure on the Centre to immediately withdraw the anti-farmer decision of imposing value cut on the MSP on the pretext of broken and discoloured grains”.

He said the other demand is from the Punjab government that “full compensation should be made for damaged crops and houses as paltry compensation of Rs 15,000 per acre” announced by AAP dispensation was “nothing”. “Farm labourers including women should be compensated immediately. The absurd anti-farmer decision to pay the paltry compensation of Rs 15000 per acre only up to five acres should be withdrawn immediately and the government should ensure uninterrupted procurement of wheat and other crops without deduction in MSP,” he said.

He said that in the first phase of this agitation, the organization has already held a massive protest at the district/tehsil level in 15 affected districts on April 12, 13 and 14 and handed over these demands to deputy commissioners.

“But since the plea has failed to move the government, the decision has been taken to block the rail traffic. The central and state governments are the only ones to blame for the inconvenience caused to the common people. By denying the full MSP or full compensation, these governments have forced the farmers to block rail traffic who are already being crushed under the burden of debts,” he added.