PHAGWARA:After giving one day relaxation to the people in view of Raksha Bandhan Festival on Thursday, the agitating farmers today once again blocked both sides of National HighWays ie between Jalandhar and Ludhiana while intensifying their stir which entered in fifth day today.
The protesting farmers today began their dharna day before Sugar Mills Phagwara by organising Shri Sukhmani Sahib Path this morning.Hundreds of Vehicles on both sides of national highways were seen standard despite diversion of routes by the police today.Thousands of the commuters had to face much more tough time today.Bhartiya Kisan Union President Manjit Singh Rai and General Secretary Satnam Singh Sahni said that the indefinite dharna would continue till acceptance of their long pending demands including immediate depositing of pending dues of Rs 72 Crores in the respective bank accounts of the farmers.
They said a joint meeting of 31 various farmers Union belonging to "Sanyukta Kisan Morcha" was held in Phagwara today to discuss the next course of agitation.They said that farmers will intensify their agitation after August 25 and the farmers could block even rail traffic and Toll plazas in the state, if their all demands could not be accepted till then.It was reliably learnt that Cabinet Minister Kuldip Dhaliwal will hold a meeting with thee representatives of the farmers on Friday Evening, but the minister could not reach at Phagwara till filing of the report.Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala Vishesh Sarangal and SSP Navneet Singh Bains have already reached in Phagwara to attend the meeting of farmers with minister and administration.
Farmer-Minister talks inconclusive, dharna continues
Punjab Agriculture Minister Kuldip Dhaliwal who was supposed to reach Phagwara on Thursday around 1PM to convince the agitating farmers, reached Phagwara on Friday Evening after 5PM ie 26 hours late, but the meeting between the Minister and farmers leaders including Bhartiya Kisan Union (Doaba) president Manjit Singh Rai and general secretary Satnam Singh Sahni in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala Vishesh Sarangal and SSP Navneet Singh Bains at the Community Hall of Municipal Corporation Phagwara remained inconclusive.
They announced that the indefinite dharna would continue until the arrears of Rs 72 crore were deposited in the bank accounts of the farmers concerned.
Though the minister put his hard efforts to convince the farmers to lift the blockade, but the farmers leaders said the protesters can facilitate local residents by opening the service roads but highways would remain blocked.BKU(Doaba) leaders said the farmers will decide next course of action in a meeting of the farmers on Saturday morning