In a huge embarrassment for Sangrur Congress, cane farmers have been chasing party supporters away in various villages and raising slogans against the Punjab Government for allegedly not helping them get their dues of Rs 74.46 crore from a private sugar mill of Dhuri.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders have informed Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh about the issue.
“Since our repeated meetings with the Sangrur administration have failed to get our dues released, we have started protests against Congress government in Sangrur from today. We will oppose Congress candidate Kewal Singh Dhillon across the constituency,” said Sarbjit Singh Alal, president of Lok Sangharsh Committee.
Cane farmers first protested on the Sangrur-Barnala road near Bahadurpur village for around an hour. Later, they reached Ubhawal village, where a Congress function was going on. The farmers started raising slogans, forcing the party leaders to leave. They then chased them to Bahadurpur village and later raised slogans during a function in Duggan too.
“We have been left with no other option but to launch a protest against the Congress government. We are demanding our money and not seeking any debt waiver,” said Harjeet Singh Bugra, president of cane growers committee.
Harman Bajwa, secretary of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, said their dues were to be paid by a private mill and government had no role in it. “The administration is ready to get a case registered against the mill owner but farmers are unwilling to do so. Now, they are playing into the hands of our political opponents. We have informed the CM,” Bajwa said.