The three hours meeting of Farmer leaders with officialsof Jalandhar administration today remained inconclusive as no agreement couldbe reached on the cost of production for sugarcane. The highway and railblockade to continue.
The farmers have now fixed another meeting with Punjab CMand other government officials on Tuesday. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will preside over ameeting with cane growers tomorrow at 3pm in Chandigarh.
Stating this here after a meeting held with cane growers,Punjab’s Commissioner Agriculture Dr Balwinder Singh Sidhu said that detaileddeliberations were taken place with farmers at district administrative complex,where their all genuine concerns were also heard patiently.
He also mentioned that on most of the issues, a consensusbetween government and farmers had evolved while there are still differences onsome issues, which were expected to be resolved in tomorrow's meeting with theChief Minister. He described today's meeting as a step in the right directionto end the ongoing agitation of the farmers.
Meanwhile, service roads were opened for Raksha Bandhan on Sunday,while the dharna now continues as usual. They commuters are at receiving end ashuge traffic could be witnessed both at highway and in the city.
The farmers have been demanding State Advised Price (SAP)on sugarcane to be raised to at least Rs 370, as compared to the previous priceof Rs 295 to 310 (varying according to variety).
They said the per quintal price of sugarcane in Haryanawas Rs 350 last year and had now been raised to Rs 358, but sugarcane growersin Punjab had been receiving a price of Rs 310 per quintal for the last fiveyears.
The protesting farmers said that if their demands are notmet, they’ll intensify their agitation and would also give a call for PunjabBandh.
“We are hopeful that Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh willpay heed to our demands and the SAP on sugarcane will be raised to at least Rs370. In case the meeting remains inconclusive, we’ll continue with our protest”,said a farm leader.