Farmers to not celebrate Diwali if payment of dues not made

Agitated over the non-payment of cane dues, farmers in the district today said if their payments are not made then they will not celebrate Diwali this year.
The decision was taken during a panchayat of farmers held at Dhikana village here, Teeka Dada, who chaired the panchayat said.
Teeka said it was decided that if payment of cane dues was not made and adequate financial assistance was not extended to the families of farmers who had committed suicide, farmers would not celebrate diwali this year.
He alleged that due to non-payment of cane dues farmers were facing financial crisis and were forced to commit suicide due to the stubborn attitude of the mill owners and the state government.

He claimed that two farmers had already committed suicide in the district so far.
Chairman of Bagpath Cane Committee Krishnapal Singh claimed that around Rs 3,000 crore of farmers was due on the sugar mills.
He demanded that a penalty including interest should be imposed on the sugar mills not paying cane dues of the farmers.
A large number of representatives from different villages along with leaders had attended the panchayat.