Congress to corner govt over cane growers’ dues
Thursday, 20/08/2015
http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Tribune/
Chandigarh : The Congress is set to take on the SAD-BJP government over the non-payment of dues to sugarcane farmers by sugar mills in the state.
Two top Congress leaders, Capt Amarinder Singh and Partap Singh Bajwa, have chalked out separate protest programmes to seek early payment to cane farmers.
While Bajwa will hold protests in front of sugar mills, starting from a mill in Phagwara, owned by SAD leader Jarnail Singh Wahid, from August 25, Captain will gherao of the Chief Minister’s Chandigarh residence on August 21.
Both leaders have lambasted the SAD-BJP government for non-payment of adequate compensation to farmers whose crops were damaged during the unseasonal rains and floods.
“It is unfortunate that the state has not been paying the promised compensation of Rs3 lakh each to farm suicide victims. Potato farmers were forced to go for distress sale of their produce at a price as low as 60 paise per kg. Cotton growers are selling their crop at half the price. Poplar tree growers are facing hardships due to fall of price of the tree wood from Rs1,200 per quintal to Rs400 per quintal. The government is doing nothing to bail out the farmers,” alleged Bajwa, adding that the cane growers’ dues to the tune of Rs682 crore had not been paid.
The Amarinder-led August 21 dharna in front of the CM’s residence will be attended by sitting and former MPs, MLAs, PCC and DCC presidents and other leaders.
Captain said: “The sugarcane farmers have not been paid since December last. Ideally, they should be paid for their produce within 15 days”. He appealed to all Congress leaders to join the protest since the issue concerned thousands of farmers.
For farmers’ cause
PCC chief Partap Bajwa will hold protests in front of sugar mills, starting from Phagwara on August 25; Captain will gherao the Chief Minister’s Chandigarh residence on August 21
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