Farmers' outfit not to support any political party

Sangrur: Hundreds of activists of farmers organization BKU (Ekta Dakaunda) have decided not to support any political party in the upcoming parliament elections. Asking its leaders and activists not to support any party or candidate collectively, the union has however asked them to exercise their franchise or opt for none of the above (NOTA). The union has about 5,000 members in Punjab, mainly in the Malwa region.

The farmer organisation on Monday held a conference at Bhawanigarh in Sangrur district on the lines of 1907 movement of "Pagri Sambhal Jatta," where activists from Malwa region had assembled to debate on various issues confronting the peasantry, especially the role of BKU (Ekta Dakaunda) in the coming elections. The farmers were asked not to depend on political parties for their struggles.

Union president Boota Singh Burjgill said Punjab farmers had supplied abundant grains to the central kitty but in return they got unbearable burden of debt and suicides. "The farmers have accumulated debt of Rs 51,600 crore from cooperative, public and private banks and Rs 17,600 crore from moneylenders. Every farmer household has an average debt of Rs 6.5 lakh," he said.