Shamli: The indefinite protest by farmers demanding pending sugarcane payments at Bajaj Sugar Mill in Thana Bhawan, Shamli, entered its fifth day on Thursday, gaining further momentum. The demonstration, organized by the Sanyukt Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, received support from Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU-Tikait) National Vice President Mainpal Singh, who joined the protest site and assured full cooperation to the farmers, reports Live Hindustan.
Addressing the farmers, Mainpal Singh stated that their demands are legitimate, and the ongoing protest is a result of the sugar mill’s failure to clear payments. “We stand with the farmers in their decision and will continue to support them until their rightful dues are cleared,” he said.
Meanwhile, Shamli Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vinay Pratap Bhadauria arrived at the protest site and held discussions with Cane Committee Secretary Bhaskar Raghuvanshi and Mill Manager Gyanendra Veer Singh. The farmers informed officials that the sugar mill has not cleared ₹200.70 crore in interest on pending payments for the last six years. Additionally, they claimed that only 27 days’ worth of payments from the current season had been disbursed, despite the mill operating for four months. Frustrated by the delayed payments, farmers said they had no option but to stage the protest.
Following the discussions, SDM Bhadauria held a meeting with mill officials, where the administration stated that payments could only be made after March 31. However, this proposal was rejected by the farmers, who decided to continue their protest until their demands were met.
The protest saw the participation of hundreds of farmers, including Lavi Rana, Dheeraj Singh, Harendra Singh, Thakur Satish (Chairman), Rakesh Sharma, Kiran Pal, Honey Singh, Lalla Thakur, Sandeep, Sanjay Singh, Neeraj Kumar Pradhan, and Shyam Singh Gogma. In light of the growing agitation, police and PAC forces were deployed at the site to maintain security.
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