Bharti Kisan Union Punjab (Lakhowal) today held a state-level meeting in Ludhiana where they demanded that the Central Government should immediately withdraw the increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas.
Harinder Singh Lakhowal, President, BKU Punjab, said that due to the increase in the prices of petrol and diesel by the Central Government, farmers, labourers and common people across the country who were already fed up with inflation, are struggling to make ends meet. But the government has put a massive financial burden on the people by giving permission to oil companies to increase fuel prices immediately after the Assembly elections in five states. Before the elections, the government used to say that the prices of petrol and diesel will not increase, but the opposite happened.
Lakhowal added that at this time, the farmers have to sow paddy, and this increase will weigh heavily on the farmers’ crops and expenses. The prices of crops do not increase as the government is increasing the prices of petrol and diesel. Cost and expenses of the farmers will increase more than before, while the income will remain the same.
Lakhowal asserted that with the increase in diesel prices, inflation will also increase in the markets because all goods are transported by trucks. The means of transport also run on diesel. From bus fares to freight rates, there will also be an increase, which will increase the prices of goods in the market. Inflation will get out of control.
“We also demand from the Punjab government that the prices of petrol and diesel in the state should be reduced to the same level as the neighboring states which will benefit the people of Punjab," held Lakhowal.
Another BKU leader Nirmal Singh Jhanduke said that Punjab is currently facing a severe shortage of fertilisers. During the paddy season, farmers need fertilisers in large quantities. Farmers need to buy fertilisers like DAP, urea at this time. It is being seen that farmers are being looted heavily at the societies and fertiliser shops. It is the responsibility of the government. The paddy crop is on the verge of harvest, but the government has not yet made any proper arrangements for fertilisers and sprays, due to which the economic exploitation of farmers is being done on a large scale.
BKU leader Harminder Singh Khaira said that the Sutlej River, which passes through many districts of Punjab and borders many villages, has a large amount of sand and weeds growing in it due to the flow of water, which causes the embankments to break. “We demand from the Punjab government that wherever there are embankments on the rivers or the embankments that are weak, they should be strengthened by installing steel meshes in the stones and the weeds and sand should be removed so that the flow of water can be smooth and the villages along the river do not have to suffer any damage. Last year, embankments also broke on a large scale, due to which farmers and villages had to suffer heavy losses asserted Khaira."
The BKU also demanded from the Punjab government and PSPCL that the farmers should be provided with uninterrupted supply for tubewell motors for 10 hours because due to expensive diesel, it is unaffordable for farmers to run their generators. Also, before planting paddy, the canals, drains, tailings and embankments should be cleaned so that the farmers do not face any problem during the paddy season.
