Curated By: Sheen Kachroo
Last Updated: November 28, 2023, 21:53 IST
Farmers will also submit another detailed memorandum to the state government by December 4 ( Representative Image: PTI )
“This was a trailer,” said Harinder Singh Lakhowal, a farmer leader from Punjab adding that a bigger agitation will be held if the government does not show seriousness towards our demands
Farmers and their unions who gathered at the Mohali and Panchkula border for a three-day strike ended their protest on Tuesday after meeting with the governors of Punjab and Haryana.
But, farmers have warned the Centre of a “bigger agitation” if it does not show “seriousness” towards their pending demands.
“This was a trailer,” said Harinder Singh Lakhowal, a farmer leader from Punjab adding that a bigger agitation will be held if the government does not show seriousness towards our demands.
Lakhowal added that some of their demands pertain to the state government which will come up with them on December 19.
Farmers demanded the withdrawal of cases filed against them during the 2020-21 stir against the repealed farm laws, compensation and jobs for a family member of farmers who died during that stir, debt waiver, and pension from Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit.
Lakhowal said they had submitted a memorandum to the Punjab governor, who gave his assurance that he would “forward our demands to the Centre and try to fix a meeting with the government.” “We have ended our three-day protest and farmers are now headed back to their homes,” he further said.
Protesting farmers have separately sent a delegation to meet Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya to raise their various demands.
After the meeting, farmer leader Suresh Koth told news agency PTI that they “want to give a clear warning to the government that we have and we can fight for our rights.” “If the government does not fulfil our demands, then you will see a bigger agitation than the one which was seen against (now repealed) farm laws,” Koth said.
Protest farmers demanded a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops from the Centre among others.
Farmers’ representatives from Punjab also met state agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on the last day of their three-day protest.
Another farmer leader from Punjab, Ravneet Brar, told reporters, “We had come to awaken the government to our demands which, if not met, will lead to a bigger agitation.” Koth said, “We will hold a meeting on December 11 in Hisar.”
Farmers will also submit another detailed memorandum to the state government by December 4, followed by the meeting on December 19.
Other demands of Punjab farmers include:
- Compensation for crop loss caused by floods in July and August.
- Purchase of crops like maize, moong, and sugarcane at an assured price.
- The price of the sugarcane should be Rs 450 a quintal and the government should release the dues of cane.
- Withdrawal of cases registered against farmers for stubble burning.
For more than a year, farmers across Punjab and Haryana sat at Delhi’s Singhu and Tikri borders against the now-repealed farm laws. Anguished over the laws, farmers blocked the key entry points to the national capital.
(with PTI inputs)
