BARNALA: For the damage that pink bollworm has caused to Punjab’s cotton crop, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) has blamed the “corporatisation of agriculture”, alleging that it gave farmers spurious seeds and pesticides that first led to a pest attack and then failed the combat measures.
The farmer union has demanded a compensation of Rs 60,000 for each acre to the farmers and Rs 30,000 for each acre to farm labourers who lost jobs. The BKU has also asked its members not to submit their ‘fard’ (land record) while selling paddy. It asked the state government to employ own sources to lift the crop residue within a week of harvesting or the farmers will be forced to burn the straw and resist anyone who comes to collect a fine.
Farmer union president Joginder Singh Ugrahan made these declarations at a big rally in Barnala’s grain market on Tuesday. He said: “Spurious seeds are behind the pink bollworm attack and the bogus pesticides failed to control it. The central government should check the quality of the seeds and pesticides that are on the market but it has given too much freedom to the corporates despite our opposition.”
Ugrahan said the land record had issues of fraction because of family shares, and so the fards shouldn’t be submitted for procurement, even if the government had made it mandatory.
Paying tributes to freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh on his 114th birth anniversary, the BKU organised a Swaraj Virodhi (anti-imperialism) rally at Barnala on Tuesday. He said: “The present times are similar to those when Bhagat Singh fought the British imperial forces. This time, the enemy is the Narendra Modi government that promotes the multinational companies.”
BKU vice-president Jhanda Singh Jethuke, general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, and women’s wing head Harinder Kaur Bindu also spoke on the occasion.
Ugrahan claims that the ruling Bharatiya Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could split over the farmers’ agitation, and while Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar says the government is ready to talk to the farmers, “it is only to mislead the public, else they would have fixed a day and a time, and regretted the death of 600-odd farmers in 10 months of protest”.
Wristwatch to identify members
For distinct identity, the farmers affiliated to the BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) will now wear its own-designed wristwatches inspired by its yellow and green flag with symbols of agricultural tools. This is to separate them from the many farmer unions that are active in Punjab and protesting against the three central agri-marketing laws. The organisation has also made badges to attach behind the mobile phones.
‘Anti-imperial’ tribute paid
On the 114th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Shaheed Bhagat Singh, the peasants, youth, and women organised an ‘Anti-Imperialist Conference’ to pay him tributes. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said: “The size of the gathering was a demonstration of the rising consciousness against imperialist exploitation and hegemonic suppression of the present peasant struggle. Imperialist designs are behind indebtedness, suicides, and unemployment.”
