BKU to launch awareness campaign on farmers’ suicides

Mann said the BKU would organise a massive farmers’ rally at Khanna on August 31 to educate farmers against taking the extreme step of suicide and would announce the future course of the agitation.

The BKU which has already organised farmers rallies on the eve of Independence Day and approached the Akal Takht chief Bhai Ranjit Singh against the debt-related suicides had rejected the package announced by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during the Assembly session which concluded recently.

Mann said the Punjab government’s package was inadequate and demanded waiving off of farmers debts and the interest incurred on loans given by various banks and private lenders. He also demanded withdrawal of various restriction like Mandikaran (marketing) quota, permit and levy on their produce and said farmers should be allowed to export their produce.

Speaking to media persons, V. Shivaji, a former MP from Andhra Pradesh said that though the Union government had announced that there were about 400 debt-related suicides in the country, 300 farmers had committed suicides in Andhra Pradesh also during the year.He lauded the efforts of the Andhra government in providing Rs 1 lakh as ex gratia, a house and free education for the next of kin of the farmers who had committed suicide.

Vipin Desal, former chief All India Farmers Coordination Committee said nearly 2,000 farmers had committed suicide in the country which was a matter of serious concern. He also said that 28 farmers were gunned down in Betul tehsil headquarters in Madhya Pradesh by police.

Gunwant Desai, former chief of the All-India Kisan Coordination Committee, Labh Shanker Upadhai, president Youth Samaj (Kisan Union) in Gujarat and Suresh, president Youth Wing of Kisan Union Andhra Pradesh also spoke on the occasion.

The chairman of the National Agriculture Price Commission will also take part in the seminar being organised at Khanna.