As the Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) Doaba and other farmer unions prepare for a large mahapanchayat at Kukkar Pind on August 20 to press for various farmer-related demands, other unions in the Doaba region are also mobilising for the cause.
The BKU-Qadian and the Kirti Kisan Union (KKU) have announced their participation in the agitation over long-pending sugarcane payments owed by the Nakodar sugar mill. These unions have scheduled a protest for August 18, reported Tribune India.
In response to the non-payment of Rs 19 crore by the Cooperative Sugar Mill Limited, Nakodar, a joint meeting was held today by BKU-Qadian and KKU at Mehatpur. Farmers resolved to unite in their efforts to recover the outstanding dues from the mill.
As part of the first phase of their protest on August 18, the unions plan to meet with the mill’s management and submit a formal demand letter seeking immediate release of the Rs 19 crore in arrears.
Amrik Singh, Jalandhar district president of BKU-Qadian, stated, “This meeting with the Nakodar mill management marks the beginning of our movement. Sugarcane farmers throughout Doaba and the state are awaiting payments from various mills. Many of these mills are also waiting on dues from the government. We still haven’t received payments from the Phagwara sugar mill dating back to 2021–22. Additionally, payments remain pending with mills in Dasuya, Mukerian, Buttran, Morinda, and Amloh.”
The August 20 mahapanchayat at Kukkar Pind has been called by BKU-Doaba and other unions under the SKM (non-political) banner. Key issues to be addressed include land pooling, unpaid sugarcane dues, and crop losses due to flooding. Farmers will assemble at Behram Toll Plaza on August 20 and then march to Kukkar Pind for the event.
