No headway in Badal's meeting with Punjab farmers

A crucial meeting on Monday between leaders of agitating farmers and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and senior government functionaries failed to produce any results.

No conclusive breakthrough could be achieved as the government said it was not in a position to accept the demands of agitating farmers, government sources said after the meeting that lasted over four hours in the evening.

After the meeting with representatives of the coordination committee of 18 farmer and farm labour unions here, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal reiterated that the Akali Dal-BJP alliance government was committed to the welfare of farmers and farm labourers in the state.

Senior Akali Dal leader and parliament member Prem Singh Chandumajra told the media that the meeting was held in a "positive atmosphere".

On the other hand, farmer leaders who attended the meeting left for another venue to discuss the issues raised with Badal and state government functionaries.

"We will discuss the issues and let you know later," farmer leader Sukhdev Singh Khokriwala told the media at Punjab Bhawan here.

The 'rail roko' (railway blockade) agitation by farmers in Punjab continued for the sixth day on Monday as farmers blocked rail traffic at several places in Amritsar, Moga, Mansa and other districts.

Over 800 trains, including the Samjhauta Express peace train between India and Pakistan, have been cancelled or diverted by railway authorities due to the ongoing agitation by farmers.

Thousands of passengers have been left stranded due to cancellation of trains. The loss to the railways and other agencies is said to be over Rs.100 crore in these six days.

Agitating farmers are demanding compensation of Rs.40,000 per acre for loss of cotton crop due to whitefly pest attack, purchase of basmati rice at minimum support price, and immediate release of payments to sugarcane growers.