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Tribune News Service
Ambala, January 24
Hundreds of sugarcane farmers, under the banner of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, held a mahapanchayat over the delay in the payment of dues by a Naraingarh sugar mill. They also staged a dharna outside the mill.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni said, “Over Rs 100 crore is yet to be paid by the mill. As per the plan chalked out in Chandigarh on January 3, the mill was to pay Rs 21 crore till today but it disbursed only Rs 4.50 crore.”
While addressing the farmers, the Bharatiya Kisan Union chief said a six-point demand charter had been sent to all political parties and whichever political outfit agreed to fulfil their demands, the BKU would support it in the upcomingelections.
The farmers ended their dharna following an assurance by the mill owner. The mill had transferred Rs 1.28 crore on Wednesday and another Rs 1 crore today. The mill owner has assured to pay Rs 1.5 crore per day to farmers until the dues are cleared. The mill owner will make the additional payment by selling electricity.
Mill owner Rahul Anand claimed that a bank had to provide funding but it was delayed. The Electricity Department is yet to pay Rs 8 crore to the mill.
Bharatiya Kisan Unionspokesman Rajiv Sharma said, “It has been decided that another mahapanchayat will be held on February 14. If the mill continued making payment as per its assurance, we would welcome it. But if the payment was not made, we will be forced to take a harsh step.”
Withdraw support to minister
Protesting sugarcane farmers said they would not support Minister of State Nayab Singh Saini in the upcoming elections and won’t allow him enter their villages. BKU spokesman Rajiv Sharma said, “The farmers had invited the minister but he didn’t come. The farmers have decided not to support the minister in the upcoming elections.”
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