BKU Ekta Ugrahan to start sit-ins at residences of AAP, BJP candidates in 4 assembly constituencies where bye-elections on Nov 13

BATHINDA: Into protests for the last 16 days at toll plazas and residences/offices of leaders of Aam Aadmi Party and BJP against tardy procurement, lifting apart from shortage of DAP and penal action being taken against farmers upon burning crop residue in the fields, farmer organisation BKU Ekta Ugrahan has decided to intensify protests at the residences/offices of candidates of AAP and BJP at all 4 places where bye-elections are slated on November 13. The sit-ins at the residences/offices of both AAP and BJP candidates will be started from Monday (November 4) at Barnala, Gidderbaha, Chabbewal and Dera Baba Nanak. The decision was taken at a state level meeting of farmer organisation held at village Cheema near Barnala on Saturday.

Presently the protests are ongoing at 52 places which include 26 toll plazas and 26 residences/offices of AAP, BJP leaders. The protests at 26 toll plazas will continue unabated but instead of 26 residences/offices of leaders, these will be decreased to 8 places, 4 candidates each of AAP and BJP, said farmer organisation president Joginder Singh Ugrahan adding both central government led by BJP and state government led by AAP are equally responsible for the harassments of farmers in grain markets. The protests at Barnala will be at the residence of BJP candidate Kewal Singh Dhillon and AAP candidate Harinder Singh Dhaliwal, at Gidderbaha it will be BJP candidate Manpreet Badal and AAP candidate Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon, at Chabbewal it will be at AAP candidate Ishaan Chabbewal and BJP candidate Sohan Singh Thandal, at Dera Baba Nanak it will be at BJP candidate Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon and AAP candidate Gurdeep Singh Randhawa.

“It is over a month now that farmers continue to face hardships in the grain markets as procurement is not up to mark and lifting is slow due to which there are space issues. The space to store paddy is less as crops of previous season have not been moved from Punjab . The farmers are face hardships in getting DAP for wheat sowing and penal action is being taken against farmers burning stubble in their fields which they have to do in absence of CRM machinery, tractors in the reach of small and marginal farmers”, said general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan and vice president Jhanda Singh Jethuke. They added that the protests will continue till situation streamlines.