Punjab Farmers Hold Protest Seeking MSP Law, Relief For Damaged Crops. Congress Joins

Farmers are staging a protest in Punjab's Sangrur seeking compensation for damaged crops from the Centre and a law on MSP.

Farmers in Punjab are staging a sit-in protest outside Longowal Police Station in Sangrur seeking relief for damaged crops among other demands. The farmers have demanded Rs 50,000 crore from the Centre as a relief and also a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP) in line with Kerala. Meanwhile, heavy police deployment continues at the premises. Police said the protesters suddenly changed their plans to hold the agitation at a different place. However, Sangrur SP Palwinder Singh told ANI that SHO and DSPs talked to them but the farmers were not ready to listen.

The protest is being held by farmers under the aegis of Bhartiya Kisan Ekta in which 16 farmer jathebandis are taking part.

"...Farmers are suffering losses. So, 16 farmer jathebandis had demanded that the Central Govt release Rs 50,000 Crores as a relief fund, our crops are damaged. We had also demanded that the Centre form MSP law, in line with Kerala so that we are not looted..," said Dilbag Singh Harigarh, a representative.

Meanwhile, the  Punjab unit of the Congress party is staging a protest in Mohali against the State Government in the wake of the farmers' agitation and the death of a farmer in Sangrur on Monday, reported ANI.

Speaking on the protest, Punjab LoP Partap Singh Bajwa said, "We don't have any relation with AAP. We have cleared this earlier too and we are doing this again today. If we had to support them, would we have protested against them today? What happened in Delhi? Wherever BJP goes to the extreme, there will be support. Not here."

SP Singh said that the farmers staged a 'dharna' yesterday (Monday). "When we spoke with them and told them not to block the main highway or toll plaza, they said that they will stage a 'dharna' here (near Police Station). Suddenly, they planned to move upon which concerned SHOs and DSPs spoke to them and to stay here...They didn't listen...We are ready to talk with them," he added.

On police deployment, Songh said that they have deployed a Police force to maintain law and order, as a safety measure. "We have deployed 300-350 Police personnel and also put nakabandi in place..," he further added.