Exclusion of Punjab’s representation from BBMB: BKU stages protest in Ludhiana, seeks President’s intervention

Raising slogans against the Bhartiya Janata Party-led union government, the BKU members protesting in Ludhiana, said the union government is working to appoint the head of the BBMB from some other state rather than appointing the same from Punjab or Haryana

Raising hue and cry over exclusion of Punjab’s representation from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) staged a protest against the union government outside the mini secretariat on Saturday.

Members of BKU (Ugrahan) staged a protest outside the mini-secretariat against the amendment in the rules regarding appointments to two key positions on the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), in Ludhiana on March 05, 2022. (Gurpreet Singh/HT)

The farmers’ union submitted a memorandum with the DC office, which was addressed to the President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his intervention to stop the alleged attack on the rights of the state.

The farmers also organised a protest march from outside Mini Secretariat to Bharat Nagar Chowk and back.

Raising slogans against the Bhartiya Janata Party-led union government, the farmers said the union government is working to appoint the head of the BBMB from some other state rather than appointing the same from Punjab or Haryana.

“Through this, the union government is also trying take over dams and hydro power projects of the state. This is against the rights of the state as people from other states do not know the needs of the state and this will also be a step towards privatisation of BBMB, which is not acceptable,” protesting farmers said.

He said protests were staged outside district headquarters across the state. “We have urged the President to intervene and stop the union government, otherwise we will be forced to raise agitation against the union government,” he further said.