Akali leaders face public ire in Bathinda
Saturday, 31/10/2015
http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Tribune/
Bathinda : Akali leaders today faced the ire of Sikhs over the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and compensation to cotton growers during a state-level function on the death anniversary of Sant Fateh Singh, at Badiala village in Bathinda district.
The Akali leaders had to leave the stage following the protest by villagers and members of farmer unions.
Earlier, farmers and members of the Sikh community had announced to protest against the government and show black flags to Akali leaders. However, the police rounded up some of the Sikhs from the village and around 200 protesting farmers from various spots, including Badiala.
Around 4 pm, when Akali leader and Rajya Sabha MP Balwinder Singh Bhundar was addressing a gathering, protesters interrupted him by raising anti-government slogans. Akali leaders Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Daljit Singh Cheema and Surjit Singh Rakhra had already addressed the gathering before Bhundar.
Farmer unions also announced to revive their stir from November 4, saying protests would be held outside offices of the Deputy Commissioners in Amritsar and Moga.
Farmers and labourers have been protesting to seek the release of compensation at the rate of Rs 40,000 per acre of cotton crop that was damaged due to whitefly and the supply of spurious pesticides. The farm labourers are demanding compensation to the tune of Rs 20,000 per labour family.
The president of BKU (Ekta Ugraha), Bathinda, Shingara Singh Mann, said, “Around 350 farmers were today rounded up by the police but they could not stop us to reach the venue and we staged our protest following which Akali leaders left the venue in hurry.”
Bathinda SSP Rajeshwar Singh Sidhu said, “We detained about 200 farmers from different spots but released them later in the evening. No case has been registered against anyone.”
