Punjab farmers' unions start 3-day stir over various demands

Several farmers' unions in Punjab today started their three-day round the clock demonstration in front of district administration complexes at Amritsar and Moga in support of their demands which include appropriate compensation for crop damage.
Eight farmers' unions and four Khet Mazdoor (farm labourer) organisations today began their three-day agitation in Moga and Amritsar and held rallies and dharnas in front of district administration complexes, officials said.
Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) divisions- Ekta and Ugrahan organised the dharna at Moga in Malwa belt of the state.
Addressing a dharna, BKU (Urgahan) President Joginder Singh Urgahan and BKU (Ekta) Genral Secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri said if the government fails to accept their demands, all Kisan Unions and Khet Mazdoor organisations would meet here on November 7 and announce their further line of action.

The farmers's earlier stir had caused a huge economic loss to the state and crippled train services.
The farmers are demanding compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre for damage caused to cotton crop due to the white fly attack.

Their other demands include clearance of sugar mills dues, Rs 20,000 in damages to farm labourers and Rs 5 lakh to the families of farmers who committed suicide, they said.
Both Urgahan and Kokri alleged that Punjab government was not serious over the demands due to which the seven-day 'Rail Roko' stir from October 7 was organised that crippled train services and caused a huge economic loss to the state.

Over 1,200 trains including several long-distance ones were affected causing inconvenience to passengers and an estimated loss of about Rs 150 crore to the Railways.
During that agitation, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had held talks with the protesting farmers' leaders but it failed to resolve the issue.