Farmers end strike after Punjab CM assures new agriculture policy by September 30
- In Reports
- 08:53 PM, Sep 06, 2024
- Myind Staff
Farmers who had been protesting against the purported delay in Punjab’s new agriculture policy concluded their strike on Friday. The resolution came a day after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann pledged that a draft of the policy would be made available to them by September 30. Mann also assured that their feedback would be considered and integrated before the policy’s final implementation.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann conducted a meeting lasting over two hours with leaders from the Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, the organizations spearheading the farmers' protests. The discussions addressed the farmers’ demands, which led them to initiate a five-day protest on Sunday, specifically calling for the implementation of the new agriculture policy.
At the protest site, Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) President Joginder Singh Ugrahan informed reporters that they had requested the state government to release the agriculture policy to the public.
“They (the government) said it was being finalised. They said by September 30, they would finalise it and hand over a copy,” he said.
“We will wait till September 30. After we get a copy of the policy, we will go through it and hold a big meeting and decide the next course of action,” he added.
In the interim, “we have decided to end the protest in Chandigarh at 2 pm”, Ugrahan said.
On Thursday, in response to inquiries about their next steps after the meeting with Chief Minister Mann, the farmer leader indicated that a decision would be made following further discussions. Mann assured the farmers of the state government’s commitment to protecting their interests, emphasising that the new agriculture policy would be a progressive move in this regard. He noted that while the draft of the policy is prepared, it will be finalised only after thorough consultations with the farmers. The draft is set to be shared with them by September 30, and their feedback will be solicited.
Mann stated that the farmers’ suggestions would be integrated into the policy, as the state government aims to avoid imposing measures on growers. He emphasised that his administration is dedicated to consulting with farmers to ensure that agriculture becomes a profitable enterprise.
After the meeting, Ugrahan announced that they were informed a 1,600-page draft of the policy would be shared with them by September 30. Additionally, the farmers' other demands include the promotion of chemical-free crops, compensation for the families of farmers who have committed suicide, and measures to address the drug problem in the state, as previously stated by Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union General Secretary Lachhman Singh Sewewala.
Image source: PTI
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