Govt's anti-farmer policies reason behind suicides: BKU(E)

Punjab government's anti-farmer policies are the reason behind suicides by peasants and labourers in the state, a farmers' union said here today.
Condemning the alleged use of repression on farmers, BKU (Ekta) General Secretary Sukhdev Singh said the farmers were committing suicides due to "anti-farmer" policies and use of "pressure" on them by the Punjab government.
The state government wanted to suppress the voice of farmers by arresting them, he alleged.
He announced that eight farmers' unions and four labourers' union will hold a 'Lalkar Rally' at Barnala on December 16.
Besides, the farmers would gherao Chief Minister Pakash Singh Badals' residence at Badal village in support of their demands.

The second 'Lalkar Rally' would be held at Amritsar on December 18, he said.

The dharna and gherao of Badal's residence would be for indefinite period until and unless their demands were accepted, he said.
Sukhdev said the farmers were demanding compensation of Rs 40,000 for the loss of cotton crop due to whitefly attack recently and Rs 20,000 per acre to farm labourers.
Besides, the other demands included waiving off all loans of the farmers and farm labourers, Rs 4,500 per quintal for basmati 1509 variety and Rs 5,000 per quintal rate for 1121 variety, and clearing of dues of sugarcane growers.