Farmers leaders meet Sonia, demand loan waiver

The farmer leaders also expressed support for UPA government's decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail and also submitted a memorandum of other demands.

In the memorandum, the BKU leaders led by national President Bhupinder Singh Mann and Punjab unit President Baldev Singh Mianpur, have sought a loan waiver stating that there was a huge debt burden on farmers.

The memorandum said the debt was a result of the policies of successive governments. The farmers also sought drought relief to be paid to farmers of Punjab and Haryana for the drought they had to face during the paddy crop season of 2012.

The farmers also asked for linking the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops to be linked with Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and sought the creation of a Debt Relief Body for farmers.

The BKU leaders also put forth suggestions for the proposed Bill on Land Acquisition and asked for free export of agri produce to Pakistan and Gulf countries. The farmer leaders also asked for creation of Farmers Pension fund and a fund to support farmers who committed suicide.

The BKU memorandum also sought a separate pricing for diesel used in agriculture and the inclusion of small farmers under the MGNREGA scheme.