Protesting farmers yet to decide on October 13 meeting

Muktsar, October 10

Farmers lodging an indefinite protest outside Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal’s residence at Badal village here said today they would decide in their state-level committee whether to hold a meeting with the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister on October 13.

The state government had cancelled the Saturday’s meeting with the Principal Secretary. Thereafter, the farmers were told to hold a meeting with the Principal Secretary to CM and Financial Commissioners (Revenue and Development) in Chandigarh on October 13.

BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) state secretary Shingara Singh Mann said: “Our state committee will take a call on the meeting.”

Farmers from five districts — Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka and Faridkot — are protesting under the banner of BKU (Ekta Ugrahan), demanding Rs 60,000 per acre compensation for the damage to cotton crop due to pink bollworm. Besides, they are demanding Rs 30,000 relief for each farm labourer’s family. Meanwhile, the farmers’ protest at Badal village entered sixth day today. — TNS