Demand complete farm debt waiver, abolition of kurki
Farmer bodies announce 5-day dharna outside Amarinder’s Patiala residence
Barnala, August 22, 2017: As many as seven farmers’ organizations of Punjab on Tuesday announced to hold 5-day day-night dharna outside Moti Bagh residence of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh at Patiala from September 22, 2017.
The decision was announced at a large rally of farmers organised at local grain market here on the issues of debt waiver, kurki and suicides. Thousands of farmers including women were present.
The main speakers included Joginder Singh Ugrahan of BKU (Ekta), Buta Singh Burjgill of BKU (Dakonda), Nirbhai Singh Dhudike of Kirti Kisan Union, Kanwalpreet Singh Pannu of Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Shinder Singh Nathuwala of Krantikari Kisan Union, Surjeet Singh Phool of BKU (Krantikari), Harjinder Singh Tanda of Kisan Sangharash Committee (Azad) and woman farmer leader Harvinder Kaur Bindu.
The farmers’ leaders alleged that the Congress government backed out of its poll promise of complete debt-waiver and instead doled out a grossly inadequate crop loan waiver for small and marginal farmers up to only Rs 2 lakh.
They claimed the incidents of debt driven suicides by farmers and kurki against non-repayment of debt were continuing unabated in the state.
They demanded the government should immediately notify its decision of Rs 2 lakh crop loan waiver and announce a complete debt waiver. The documents including blank cheques pledging farmer properties to avail loans must be withdrawn from the banks and private money lenders with immediate effect. The government should also immediately declare accounts books containing loan records legally null and void for future.
The leaders also demanded jobs to educated unemployed persons from rural areas and Rs 10 lakh compensation, government job to the kin of the farmers who have committed suicide for being unable to repay their loans. The government should fix rates of farm produce as recommended in Dr Swaminathan report and ensure its guaranteed purchase, they added.