Farmers block NH-1 to demand dues

A Large number of farmers blocked Jalandhar – Ludhiana stretch of national highway-1 on Friday over non-payment of sugarcane dues. The protest launched by the banner of the Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba) who also got the support of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and announced an ultimatum to the Punjab government ,asking it to clear the dues or else face a massive protest march by August 25 in phagwara.

Farmers intensified agitation by announcing an indefinite protest over the delay in the payment of their dues amounting to Rs.72 crore by Golden Sandhar Sugar Mill in Phagwara.

The Protest launched on Monday on the call of Manjit Singh Rai, president of the BKU Doada by blocking Jalandhar – Ludhiana carriageway of the NH-1 which is one of the busiest roads in Punjab. Apart from the NH -1, Farmers also parked their tractor-trolleys on roads leading to Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur and Nakodar Blocking the traffic while protesting.

A large number of police personnel were deployed and water cannons were positioned at the protest site near Phagwara Sugar Mill. Though school buses and ambulances are being allowed to pass through the dharna other commuters got stuck in traffic and suffered by the time authorities’ diverted traffic on alternate routes.

On August 17, SKM ‘jathas’ of 10,000 farmers will also head to Lakhimpur Kheri to demand against the mowing down of farmers. They will stay there on August 18 to August 20 and return on August 21 in time for the protest on August 25,” said Sandhwan.

All farmers’ groups have been directed to bring tractors. Around 59 tractors were brought from Phillaur- Goraya region alone.The long lines of tractors , cots on the highway and langar vehicle set up on the site indicated how long the protest has spread.

The vice-president of BKU Doaba Davinder Singh Sandhawan said: “we will not move until all farmers’ dues are paid and the mill begins to function again.

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