Farmers in Punjab, who had been protesting the delay in the implementation of the state’s new agriculture policy, have decided to end their strike following a commitment from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The demonstration, led by the Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, concluded on Friday after a two-hour meeting between the chief minister and the union leaders.
Chief Minister Mann assured the farmers that a draft of the new agriculture policy would be shared with them by September 30. He also committed to incorporating their suggestions into the policy before its finalization. This assurance led to the decision by the Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) to end the protest at 2 p.m. on Friday.
Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan), stated that the farmers would wait until September 30 for the draft policy. “We will review the policy once it is shared and hold a major meeting to determine our next steps,” he said. Ugrahan emphasized that the state government had promised to make the policy public and incorporate feedback before its implementation.
During the protest, the farmers had demanded transparency regarding the agriculture policy, the promotion of chemical-free crops, compensation for families of farmers who had committed suicide, and measures to address the drug problem in Punjab. The chief minister’s assurances included a pledge to consider these demands and involve the farmers in the decision-making process.
The chief minister confirmed that the draft of the policy, which spans 1,600 pages, is ready and will be shared with the farmers as promised. Mann reiterated the state government’s commitment to consulting with the farming community to make agriculture more profitable and safeguard their interests.
Sources By Agencies
