On Thursday, two groups of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Dakaunda organized protests in several districts of Punjab over the issue of crop damage due to untimely rains.
While BKU Dakaunda led by president Buta Singh Burjgill staged dharnas outside the offices of the chief agriculture officer (CAO) in the Malwa districts of Punjab, a group of BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner) led by Manjit Singh Dhaner staged a dharna outside Dreamland colony in Sangrur where Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has a rented accommodation.
In Sangrur, it was a protest day as the members of the Dhaner-led union marched on the roads of the city as they walked towards Dreamland colony on Sangrur-Patiala road. Meanwhile, in Sangrur, BKU Dakaunda (Burjgill) was sitting outside the CAO office.
Outside the CAO office, KU Dakaunda (Burjgill) staged a dharna in Bathinda, Sangrur, Mansa, Muktsar, Patiala, Barnala, Moga, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Ludhiana as well.
Harnek Singh Mehma, general secretary of BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner) said, “MLAs are just posing pictures in the fields with damaged crops while no ‘girdawari’ (crop harvest inspection) is happening in fields. Agriculture officers are also too slow in their work, while Punjab CM is giving statements that he has raised the compensation. In November 2021, the then Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab Chief Minister announced Rs 17,000 per acre compensation for cotton crop damaged due to pink bollworm, then how the current Punjab Chief Minister is saying that Rs 15,000 per acre is an enhanced compensation.”
It may be noted that the Channi government had first raised the compensation from Rs 12,000 per acre to Rs 15,000 per acre. But later, after meeting with 32 farmer unions, it was further increased to Rs 17,000 per acre. However, at the time AAP MLAs had rejected this amount and they demanded Rs 20,000 per acre for farmers.
One of the members of BKU Dakaunda (Dhaner) said that in 2021, senior AAP leader Kultar Singh Sandhwan had sought this amount for farmers. Now, in Punjab, his party has formed the government so why is it not taking the lead in compensating the farmers with Rs 50,000 per acre?
Meanwhile, Burjgill-led BKU Dakaunda will continue the protests outside CAO offices even today as well. The Punjab CM had announced that by April 15 the first cheque for compensation will be given.
