Jalandhar(Parteek Singh): After the Punjab And Haryana High Court orders to prevent farmers to hold protest at national highway, the venue of the protest was shifted to Dana Mandi, Phagwara, earlier Doaba Kisan Sangarsh Committee planned stage a ‘Dharna’ by blocking Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway on Wednesday as a protest against the state government for not increasing the prices of sugarcane crop in Punjab.
Farmers gathered in a huge number at Dana Mandi to support the protest even after the bad weather conditions as it continued to drizzle all day. The gathering was addressed by farmer leaders on this issue as they demanded the increase as soon as possible. After the assurance by officials protest was lifted by farmers with the call to block national highway on November 20 if their demands were not fulfilled by the government. Yesterday High Court orders forced farmers to stay away from the national highway, late night order was conveyed to the farmer leaders after that it was decided to shift the venue to Dana Mandi, Phagwara.
The president of Doaba Kisan Sangarsh Committee said from last 5 years there was not even a penny raised in the prices of sugarcane crop which has led farmers to economic crisis and they are under debt, expenses are increasing every year. He said our demand is to increase the State Assured Price of sugarcane to 350 per quintal, which is the right value of the crop. After no initiative by administration around 1:30 farmers gave half an hour ultimatum to officials or they will move towards the Jalandhar-Phagwara national highway to stage dharna on the road and will block it. This spread panic to the administration and Deputy Commissioner of Kaputhala, Mohammad Tayyab rsuhed to the spot within 25 minutes along with SSP and held a conversation with farmer leaders and assured them to convey their demand to government. He appreciated farmers for conducting a peaceful protest and following order of high court.