‘7 demands accepted’; farm union leaders end fast-unto-death

Patiala: Farmer union leaders on Thursday evening ended their indefinite hunger strike after the state government agreed to meet some of their demands.The farmers had been protesting outside the PSPCL office here since June 8 to push for their demands. However, after the police crackdown in the early hours of Tuesday, they were evicted from the PSPCL head office gates and detained many of them, but released them later. Police also took the five farmer leaders who had been on fast-unto-death strike since June 8 to Mata Kaushalya hospital, but they refused to end their strike, or even get any medical treatment. Various politicians had condemned the police action on farmers while on Wednesday some Sikh activists had met the hospitalized farmer leaders.All five — BKU Ekta-Sidhupur president Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Punjab Kisan and Jawan Bhalayi Union president Sukhdev Singh Bhojraj, Punjab Kisan Union Sher-e-Punjab vice president Kulwinder Singh Panjola, Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Union president Sukhjit Singh Hardojhande and Lok Bhalayi Welfare Society leader Tarsem Singh Chachowali — have now ended their strike. Bhojraj said, “The government has met our seven demands while the decision over the remaining demands will be taken in a meeting fixed for next week. The government agreed that farmers can shift their motor connections in their fields without paying any extra fees. Those with dairy farms at home will not be charged for electricity under commercial connection, but under domestic connection. It has also agreed to transfer connections in the name of the land owner in case of sale, and return the extra charged amount to farmers. Also, now transformers will be changed within 24 hours of damage, failing which SDO will face action.”
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, Location Guesser and Mini Crossword.