Farmers allege bias in relief for damaged cotton crop

Abohar, July 18

Alleging bias in the distribution of compensation to farm workers against the damage to the cotton crop due to the whitefly attack last year, scores of villagers on Monday held a protest at the sub-divisional complex here.

District Congress president Vimal Thatai led the protesters in submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the local administration. The protesters flayed Chief Parliamentary Secretary Gurtej Singh Ghuriana for repeatedly claiming in public meetings that Rs 90 crore had been distributed among farm workers who were rendered jobless due to the damage by the whitefly in the cotton belt of Balluana segment. They said hundreds of eligible farm labourers in Amarpura, Bahadurkhera, Bazidpur Kattianwali, Bhagsar, Kundal, Kikkarkhera, Nihalkhera, Ramsara and Waryamkhera villages were denied compensation as they were not ready to toe the SAD line.

“The ruling alliance has politicised the distribution of compensation, issuance of Blue Cards, pension for widows and old-aged persons,” Thatai alleged. The villagers said they would stage a dharna at the sub-divisional complex if their demand for relisting the affected farm workers was not accepted. — OC