Jalandhar: Members of the Kirti Kisan Union (KKU), Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU)-Qadian, and local sugarcane farmers today met the management of Cooperative Sugar Mill Limited, Nakodar, to press for the release of pending payments amounting to Rs 19 crore, reports The Tribune.
During the meeting with mill MD Sukhwinder Singh Toor and SSO Satnam Singh, the farmers submitted a memorandum seeking an early clearance of dues. They also warned the management that if the amount was not paid within 15 days, they would be forced to step up their protest.
The mill management assured the farmers that their concerns would be forwarded to the government.
Speaking on the issue, KKU leaders Rajinder Singh Mand and Baba Balwinder Singh said that the demand for sugarcane dues will be highlighted at the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Political) rally in Samrala on August 24. They added that a large number of farmers from Mehatpur are expected to take part in the event.
The demand for dues comes amid preparations for a major farmer mahapanchayat at Kukkar Pind on August 20, called by BKU-Doaba and other unions. In response, members of BKU-Qadian and KKU declared that they would intensify their agitation over unpaid sugarcane bills.
Farmers said that dues are pending not only with the Nakodar mill but also with other sugar mills across Doaba and Punjab. They added that in several cases, even government payments to mills have been delayed. “We have given the management 15 days. If the dues are not cleared, we will have no option but to start a bigger protest,” farmers said.
Those present at the meeting included KKU district leader Rajinder Singh Mand, BKU-Qadian’s Baba Palwinder Singh, former sarpanch Bachan Singh, Kuljit Singh, Sukhwinder Singh Khela, Taranjit Singh Mann, Baldev Singh, Tarsem Singh Shahkot, and Jaswant Singh Momi.
