Several farmers in UP begin 10-day strike as part of nationwide protest

Several farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district today stopped the supply of vegetables, milk and other items as part of the 10-day nationwide protest to press for their demands, including waiver of loans and the right price for crops.

"The farmers will not be selling milk, vegetables and grains in the urban areas from June 1 to June 10 as milk and tomato are being sold at very low rates," Sanjiv Tyagi from the Bharatiya Kisan Union said while addressing a panchayat in Bhadraula village.

"They are also not getting proper price for sugarcane. We also demand that the farmers should get 50 per cent profit on the cost incurred on crops by them," he said.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Kisan Manch (a farmers' outfit) has distanced itself from the bandh call.

"There was no response of the bandh call in Lucknow and adjoining districts. We are of the view that there is no point in telling the farmers to throw their agriculture produce on the streets, as they had put in their labour and hard work to produce the crops," Shekhar Dixit, the president of the Rashtriya Kisan Manch told PTI.

"If the the farmers' condition are to be improved, then I would urge the farmers not to sow seeds of any grain or crop. This will also help the farmers in avoiding losses, and also registering their protests," he added.