Thanabhavan : Bhartiya Kisan Union Bhanu’s National President, Bhanu Pratap Singh, stated that if the pending sugarcane payments to farmers are not cleared by September 15, a protest will be held at the mill gate on September 16, and the mill will not be allowed to operate, reports Amar Ujala.
During a farmers’ meeting held at the residence of the organization’s state vice-president, Deshpal Saini, near the local police station, Bhanu Pratap Singh addressed the gathering. Singh emphasized that these are the same farmers who have worked tirelessly to make the country self-reliant on sugar. Yet, they continue to be ignored and marginalized.
He further pointed out that farmers are being squeezed on both ends in terms of sugarcane pricing and payments. The cost of transporting sugarcane from the fields to the mills is almost equal to the price of the sugarcane itself.
Singh outlined three main demands of the organization: the formation of a Farmers’ Commission with farmer representation, the right to determine the prices of their crops and the forgiveness of farmers’ debts. However, he lamented that the government has not responded positively to these demands. He announced that on September 11, the organization would stage a protest at the Sugar House in Lucknow. Singh warned that if necessary, farmers would not only march to Delhi but also enter the city, despite any roadblocks set up by the central government
After the farmers’ meeting, the national president, along with other farmers and organization officials, visited Bajaj Sugar Mill and issued a stern warning to the mill management. The event was attended by Saharanpur District President Vijayant Singh, Muzaffarnagar District President Ramesh Singh, and Shamli District President Anoop Singh, among others. The meeting was presided over by National Organization Minister Thakur Shakti Singh.
