BKU seeks CBI probe in pesticide scam in Punjab

A faction of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) today sought a CBI probe in pesticide scam and a higher compensation for farmers whose cotton crop was damaged in pest attack in Punjab.
BKU leaders, in a meeting here, said Bt cotton was introduced by Captain Amarinder Singh during his government and in his tenure the farmers did not face any problem in selling their produce in the mandis.
"To save farmers of Punjab, we have to ensure and make all sincere efforts to make Amarinder Singh's government in 2017 so that Punjab can be saved. In the last eight years, the Akali-BJP government has virtually ruined all sectors of Punjab," National President Bhupinder Singh Mann said.

In a memorandum sent to President Pranab Mukherjee, the BKU faction led by Mann demanded a CBI probe in pesticide scam.
They said almost the entire cotton crop was wiped out due to the supply of "spurious" pesticides purchased at high prices and without procedure due to "deep-rooted greed" and "corruption" of officials and politicians.
They also demanded that the farmers be compensated with Rs 40,000 per acre as their entire crop has been destroyed. "Compensation of Rs 100-150 is a big mockery of the already aggrieved farmers," Mann said.

They further demanded compensation of Rs 1500 per quintal of 1509/1121 basmati. This variety recommended by PAU earlier fetched a price of Rs 3,000-3,500 per quintal but now farmers are being forced sell it at just Rs 1500 per quintal, he said.

The meeting was also attended by President BKU Punjab Baldev Singh Mianpur and General Secretary Punjab Gurbachan Singh Bajwa, a release said.
Mianpur said time has been sought from President's office for a delegation of farmers to submit the memorandum in person.
The BKU leaders claimed that several farmers have committed suicide in the state in the last 60 days and expressed deep anger against the Akali-BJP government over the "failure" of the cotton crop.
The Kisan leaders urged the farmers and labourers to unite and overthrow the state government in the next polls.
They ridiculed Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal for giving a clean chit to Agriculture Minister Tota Singh even as an inquiry is midway.

"The anti-farmer policies of the government have forced farmers to block rails and commit suicides. Most shocking and insensitive is the statement by Sukhbir Badal that the farmer's agitations are politically motivated," they alleged.