Farmers' Protest: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday held a meeting with the office-bearers of farmer unions at Punjab Bhawan regarding their 12-point demands. According to the information, Bhagwant Mann has accepted most of the demands of the farmers. Now the farmer representatives will talk to the farmers sitting on the dharna and announce to end of the dharna.
It is known that for the last 24 hours, farmers have been sitting on a dharna near the Chandigarh-Mohali border for all the demands including a bonus on wheat purchase and an order to start paddy sowing. The farmers wanted to march toward Chandigarh, but the police stopped them. A large number of police forces and barricades have been done on the border.
Earlier, CM Bhagwant Mann had termed the farmers' movement on the Chandigarh-Mohali border as unnecessary. He asked the farmer unions to stop shouting slogans and cooperate with the state government in checking the depleting water level in Punjab. The Chief Minister said in clear words that there would be no harm to the interests of the farmers due to the sowing program of paddy.
CM accused of disobedience
At the same time, the protesting farmers said that a bonus of Rs 500 was demanded wheat, to which the CM agreed but its notification was not issued. We also demand notification for MSP on Basmati, Moong. Prepaid electricity meters should not be installed. We will continue the Delhi-like protest in Chandigarh till the demands are met.
Farmers have presented 10 demands.
- A bonus of Rs 500 per quintal on wheat, damaged due to heatwave
- Lowering of charges of electricity load from Rs 4,800 to Rs 1,200.
- MSP for Maize and Basmati.
- Stop expropriation of Panchaayti lands.
- Stop issuing warrants against farmers who are in debt.
- Give relaxation on loan
- Allow sowing paddy from 10 June.
- Waive lone up to 2 Lakh Rupees.
- Stop the implementation of chip meters.
- Give arrears of Sugarcane crop.