Farm unions to hold joint protest in Chandigarh on July 4

Bathinda: Farmer organisations BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) and BKU (Ekta Dakaunda) have announced a joint protest in Chandigarh on July 4, accusing both the Punjab and Union govts of ignoring their demands and victimising protesting groups.The decision was taken at a joint meeting of leaders of the two organisations in Barnala on Sunday.BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan and BKU (Ekta Dakaunda) president Manjit Singh Dhaner alleged that repeated representations on various issues had failed to elicit a response from either govt. They accused the Centre of undermining Punjab's rights on issues such as river waters and dam management, while alleging that the Punjab govt had failed to effectively defend the state's interests.The farm leaders said there was still no legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops despite repeated emphasis on crop diversification. They also raised the issue of farm loan waiver.Targeting the Punjab govt, they alleged that farmers were not receiving the full benefits of the cooperative sector, claiming enhanced crop loan limits through primary agriculture cooperative societies were not being extended to cultivators.The leaders further alleged that farmers' concerns during floods and breaches did not receive adequate attention, while enforcement measures intensified during the crop residue burning season.They said the Punjab govt should address issues falling within its jurisdiction and strongly pursue matters concerning farmers' interests before the Union govt.