Angry over non-procurement of basmati variety PUSA-1121, hundreds of farmers on Friday blocked the Amritsar Sri Ganganagar national highway near Rasoolpur Nehran village, 4 km from Tarn Taran, and burnt effigy of chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
The protesters were led by Satnam Singh Pannu, president of Kisan Sangharsh Committee (KSC) that has a stronghold in Tarn Taran district.
The far mers gathered at Gurdwara Gurusar Sahib and marched towards the highway shouting slogans against the state government. Later, the protesters staged a sit-in on the road.
Lashing out at the government, Pannu said the farmers were being looted as their crops were not being purchased at a proper rate. “Such policies will eventually lead to suicides by distressed farmers. Low basmati price is a major concern,” he added.
Protesters announced that they would actively take part in dharnas to be staged for three days outside the deputy commisiioner’s offices at Amritsar and Moga from November 4 onwards.
KSC leader Jasbir Singh Piddi said, “The government should stop ignoring farmers and address their woes at the earliest.”
{{/usCountry}}KSC leader Jasbir Singh Piddi said, “The government should stop ignoring farmers and address their woes at the earliest.”
{{/usCountry}}Farmer leaders also held the Badal government responsible for incidents of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib in the state.