Jalandhar: Punjab’s Doaba Kisan Committee, a farmer association, has threatened to surround the homes of ministers and MLAs if the state government doesn’t immediately deposit pending sugarcane subsidy dues into farmers’ accounts, according to tribuneindia.
Jangveer Singh Chauhan, the national president of Doaba Kisan Committee, Punjab, and a member of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), expressed concern over the prolonged silence of the state government regarding the pending sugarcane dues for the ongoing season. He revealed that despite sugar mills being operational for over two months, the government has not addressed the issue. According to Chauhan, as per letter No. 16842 dated December 1, 2023, the Punjab Government had committed to depositing Rs 55.50 in farmers’ accounts, but not a single penny has been transferred so far.
Chauhan highlighted the necessity for farmers to resort to protests to secure fair sugarcane rates at the beginning of the crushing season in Punjab. He emphasized that last year, the state government promptly initiated subsidy payments when sugar mills commenced operations, but this year, it has shown indifference to the farmers’ concerns.
Despite being a part of the AAP government in Punjab, Chauhan pointed out that the MLAs and ministers from the sugarcane belt were not addressing the challenges faced by farmers. He asserted that the government, which has fallen short of fulfilling its election manifesto promises, should be prepared for protests demanding accountability.
