Agitating farmers in Pb to call off stir on June 6

The farmers of Punjab, whose agitation entered the fourth day today, have decided to call off their stir on June 6, even as the protest would continue in other states.

The decision was taken in a meeting of leaders of different farmers' organisations here today.

The meeting, presided by Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU-Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal, was attended by BKU (Lakhowal), BKU (Sidhpur), Indian Farmers Association, BKU (Kadian) and Punjab Dairy Federation Association.

The farmers had begun their agitation from June 1, as part of a nationwide stir, and had stopped supply of vegetables, fruits, milk and other items to various cities protesting the alleged anti-farmer policies of the Centre.

Rajewal said the farmers in Punjab would start supplying vegetables and milk to the cities on Wednesday after paying tributes to six farmers killed in police firing during an agitation in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur on June 6 last year.

"But the stir would continue in other states till June 10," he said.

Meanwhile, the farmers held protests in various parts of Punjab and Haryana, with some dumping their produce on roads.

Traders said due to dwindling supplies of farm produce in many mandis, prices were going up.

At a few places in Punjab, including in Bathinda and Moga districts, arguments broke out between the traders and some farmer leaders as the former claimed that they were being stopped from selling the stocked fruits and vegetables.

The decision to stop supplies from June 1 till June 10 was taken by farmers under the banner of Kisan Ekta Manch and Rashtriya Kisan Maha Sangh.

The farmer organisations have been demanding minimum income guarantee scheme, implementation of Swaminathan Commission report and waiver of farmers' debt.