BKU dharna ends as minister assures bonus

The 23-day long dharna of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) ended on Sunday evening after the intervention by public works department (PWD) minister Randeep Singh Surjewala.

The 23-day long dharna of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) ended on Sunday evening after the intervention by public works department (PWD) minister Randeep Singh Surjewala.

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The BKU farmers had been carrying out a hunger strike in front of mini-secretariat at Sonepat for past 23 days, demanding a sum of Rs 25,000 for damaged crops, and Rs 300 bonus on wheat crop.

Surjewala along with Sonepat MP Jitender Singh Malik had come to the dharna site and assured the BKU leaders of meeting their demand of compensation for damaged crops and bonus amount on wheat crop at centre level.

Explaining government's stand, senior Congress leader and MLA from Kaithal, told BKU president Gurnam Singh, "Entire budget for the current financial year has been allocated as per schedule and implementation of the demands of BKU will result to a cut in the allocated funds."

He said government had already apprised the union government about the sorry state of farmer's affairs and chief minister would try his level best to get a rise in wheat MSP from the next season, whcich is Rs 1,350 per quintal at present.

Minister also assured a meeting of BKU leaders with prime minister Manmohan Singh in near future regarding their demands.