Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
India

Punjab's sugarcane farmers withdraw stir as CM hikes price

Darpan News Desk IANS, 24 Aug, 2021 11:54 AM
  • Punjab's sugarcane farmers withdraw stir as CM hikes price

Chandigarh, Aug 24 (IANS) Punjab's sugarcane farmers on Tuesday withdrew their agitation in response to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's announcement of a Rs 35 per quintal hike in the state agreed price (SAP) for cane crushing season 2021-22, taking the price to Rs 360 per quintal, Rs 2 higher than in neighbouring Haryana.

The matter was resolved during a meeting of farmers union leaders with the Chief Minister here, during which Amarinder Singh, while agreeing to the SAP hike, said the state's fiscal situation had prevented adequate increase in the SAP for the past three-four years.

The farmers union leaders had earlier pointed out that Punjab had failed to hike sugarcane SAP in proportion to Haryana over this period, causing fiscal losses to them.

The Chief Minister said the farmers were not to blame for the problem, which was caused by Punjab's poor finances. While he was always with the farmers and wanted to do his best for their welfare, the state's fiscal crisis had prevented him for increasing SAP earlier, he said, adding balancing the needs of the farmers with those of the cooperative and private sugar mill owners was tough, given the prevailing fiscal situation.

Rana Gurjit Singh, who is himself a sugar mill owner besides being Congress MLA in Punjab, supported the farmers' demand for increase in SAP.

The farmers union leaders, representing the Sanjha Kisan Morcha which has been spearheading the sugarcane farmers' agitation for the past several days, thanked the Chief Minister for addressing their problem and announcing the SAP hike.

They also expressed their appreciation for the Rs 5 lakh compensation and jobs to one family member each of the Punjab farmers who have lost their lives in the ongoing protest against the farm Laws at the Delhi border.

Elated with the Chief Minister's response to their demand, the morcha representatives, including Balbir Singh Rajjewal, also offered him sweets.

The Chief Minister was joined by Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, along with MPs Preneet Kaur and Partap Singh Bajwa, MLAs Rana Gurjit Singh, Raj Kumar Verka, Fatehjang Singh Bajwa, Navtej Singh Cheema and Sushil Kumar Rinku, as well as Chairman of Punjab Mandi Board Lal Singh, Chairman Sugarfed Amrik Singh Aliwal.

 

 

MORE India ARTICLES

Arrested Punjab ex-DGP Saini to be produced in court

Arrested Punjab ex-DGP Saini to be produced in court
The Punjab Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested former state Director General of Police (DGP) Sumedh Singh Saini in a fraud case pertaining to the sale of land in 2020 and is likely to be produced in a court on Thursday.

Arrested Punjab ex-DGP Saini to be produced in court

Rahul vows to be the voice of those being silenced

Rahul vows to be the voice of those being silenced
Rahul Gandhi has been critical of the Centre and has been raising his voice over several issues. He has criticised the Modi-led government over the fuel price hike, alleged Pegasus snooping row, three farm laws and several others in recent times.

Rahul vows to be the voice of those being silenced

Complaint filed against Ram temple trustees by seer

Complaint filed against Ram temple trustees by seer
Dharam Das is the disciple of late Mahant Ram Abhiram Das, who had reportedly placed the idols inside the disputed structure on December 22 midnight in 1949. Das, a prominent face of Ram Mandir Movement and one of the main litigants from Hindu side in the Ram Janmabhoomi title suit, lodged the complaint at Ram Janmabhoomi police station.

Complaint filed against Ram temple trustees by seer

Indo-Canadians term Canada's ban on flights from India as 'discriminatory'

Indo-Canadians term Canada's ban on flights from India as 'discriminatory'
Canada's decision to ban direct flights from India till September 21 while allowing vaccinated family-class passengers and students from all other countries has not gone down well with the Indo-Canadian community. As a result of the ban, Indian students and family-class returnees are taking indirect routes to reach Canada, costing them $4,000-$6,000 per person.

Indo-Canadians term Canada's ban on flights from India as 'discriminatory'

PM Modi's claims on MSP 'incorrect', says Samyukt Kisan Morcha

PM Modi's claims on MSP 'incorrect', says Samyukt Kisan Morcha
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Wednesday claimed that the Independence Day announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) has been increased by 1.5 times is incorrect and the announced MSP is not being realised by all farmers despite his commitment in the Parliament.

PM Modi's claims on MSP 'incorrect', says Samyukt Kisan Morcha

Fugitive godman Nithyananda names himself as Madurai Aadheenam's 293rd pontiff

Fugitive godman Nithyananda names himself as Madurai Aadheenam's 293rd pontiff
The incumbent pontiff, Arunagirinatha Gnanasambantha Desika Paramacharya Swamigal, passed away at a private hospital in Madurai on August 13 due to respiratory illness. He had been the pontiff of Madurai Aadheenam for four decades.

Fugitive godman Nithyananda names himself as Madurai Aadheenam's 293rd pontiff