Congress protests outside Punjab CM's residence on farmers issue

Protesters demanded for immediate lifting of wheat from grain markets and release of payment to the farmers

Opposition Congress today held a protest outside Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's residence here to highlight the farmers' issue.

Addressing the gathering, Congress Legislature Party leader Sunil Jakhar Jakhar demanded for immediate lifting of wheat from grain markets and release of payment to the farmers.

The delay in payment to farmers amounts to their harassment, he said.

Majority of the Congress MLAs besides party's state unit chief Pratap Singh Bajwa also participated in the agitation.

Badal met the protesting Congress legislators and listened to the issues raised by them.

Congress leader Bajwa had yesterday given a call for 'Rail Roko' (train blockade) on May 2 for one hour from 12.00 to 1.00 PM against the alleged open loot of farmers in the mandis of the state.

On April 28, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi had taken his fight against the contentious land acquisition bill to Punjab as he travelled by train to the NDA-ruled state and met farmers to see their condition.

Earlier, the farmers in the state had begun a two-day 'Rail Roko' agitation but withdrew it following assurance from the state government that wheat from grain markets would be lifted at the earliest.

Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta (Ugrahan) and (Ekta) and Kisan Sangarsh Committee had jointly organised "Rail Roko" three days back to highlight their demands for compensation over crop loss due to unseasonal rain and relaxation in procurement norms.