Muzaffarnagar: Activists from the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) held a protest demonstration at the Collectorate on Monday, demanding the clearance of outstanding sugarcane payments and fix sugarcane price at Rs 450 per quintal, reports Amar Ujala.
BKU’s National President, Chaudhary Naresh Tikait, who joined the farmers, stated that any announcements made by the government should be in the farmers’ best interests. “If an error is made in making an announcement, the government should take it back,” he said. He emphasized that the welfare of farmers lies in the unity of the organization.
Tikait also reminded the administration that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a rally in Meerut, had assured a fair price for sugarcane, a promise that remains unfulfilled. He highlighted the rising cost of farming and reiterated a previous suggestion to the government that electricity rates for water pumps should be fixed.
Naveen Rathi, the BKIU District President, accused various government departments of harassing farmers. “The police claim the district is crime-free, but there is a heap of crimes,” he said. He warned that if farmers are exploited, the organization will launch a strong movement.
The protest was chaired by Pandit Om Prakash Sharma, with Sumit Chaudhary and Dev Ahlaavat jointly conducting the proceedings. Several leaders, including National General Secretary Ompal Malik, Dhiraj Lathian, Shyampal Chairman, Satyendra Balian, Chairman Zahir Farooqui, Chaudhary Shakti Singh, Neeraj Pahalwan, Yogesh Sharma, Pramod Ahlaavat, Kapil Som, and Vikas Sharma attended the meeting.
