Farmers block railway tracks to press for various demands in Amritsar, Punjab yesterday.
IANS/Chandigarh
Hundreds of farmers blocked the Amritsar-New Delhi rail track at Jandiala near Amritsar yesterday to protest against the slow pace of wheat stock purchases by government agencies in Punjab.
Scores of farmers squatted on the busy rail tracks and refused to move, saying they will continue the protest till the Punjab government ensured smooth procurement of wheat. The protest was called by the Kisan Sangharsh Committee (KSC).
Several trains were affected due to the protest.
KSC leader Swaran Singh Pandher alleged that the Punjab government was not bothered about the plight of farmers. “Wheat grain is lying in the ‘mandis’ (markets) and the government is doing nothing,” Pandher said.
Farmers across Punjab are blaming the state government for not purchasing wheat from them. They said the wheat stocks are piling up in over 1,800 procurement centres set up by the government across the state.
The farmers alleged that the wheat was not being procured properly and the farmers, who suffered damage to their crops during the recent erratic weather conditions, were not being given adequate compensation for the losses suffered by them.
Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira alleged that not even 15% of the wheat stock had been lifted from Punjab’s grain markets due to which the farmers were suffering.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal yesterday directed officers to make every effort to ensure the smooth and timely lifting of grains. Badal held a meeting with officers here yesterday.
