Punjab farmers’ bodies to hold 10 conferences ahead of August 5 mega rally

Ahead of the rally, the farmers’ outfits have decided to hold 10 big conferences across the state to mobilise the people. They will be held on July 17 at Abohar; July 18 at Khadoor Sahib; July 19 at Shreen (Jalandhar); July 20 at Gurdaspur, July 22 at Ropar, July 23 at Khanna, July 25 at Patiala, July 26 at Barnala, at July 28 Wazidpur and July 29 at Sangrur, said Prem Singh Bhangu, president of All India Kisan Federation.

About 135 state, district and block presidents and secretaries of the five unions – Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal), All India Kisan Federation, Kisan Sangarash Committee, Azad Kisan Sangarash Committee and Bharti Kisan Union ( Mansa) – participated in the meeting.

Apart from the water crisis and environment pollution, Rajewal said that issues such as complete debt waiver of farmers and agriculture workers, remunerative Minimum Support Price (MSP) and assured procurement of all agricultural produce along with vegetables and fruits, crop insurance considering acre as a unit on government expenses, monthly social security of Rs 10,000 for farmers and workers after attaining the age of 60 years and permanent solution of the problem of stray cattle will also be taken up.

Rajewal launched a scathing attack on the Punjab government for facilitating the flow of surplus water to Rajasthan through canals from Harikepattan. This, he said, has been affecting the farmers of Abohar and Fazilka who are forced to purchase water even for drinking.

The leaders expressed concern that Punjab, which is called the Land of Five Rivers, has only 27 per cent of its canals filled with water and the farmers have to depend on underground water. They demanded that every inch of Punjab’s cultivated land be given canal water.

The leaders condemned the sinister design of the central government taking the water to Haryana directly from the Sutlej River through Himachal Pradesh instead of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL). The approval given by the Centre to Himachal Pradesh from BBMB is ridiculous as Himachal Pradesh is already getting more water, they alleged.

The farmers have also demanded immediate withdrawal of the hike in prices of petrol and diesel.