More farmers joining the agitation launched by Indian Farmers’ Union in Manglaur village on Tuesday pressing their demands for fixing sugarcane prices, the stir is leaving the administration and the police worried. The agitators blocked the National Highway by stationing their tractors and trolleys, forcing the police to go for traffic diversion to ease things for the people. The agitators expressed their rage against the State Government for not meeting their demand of a hike in sugarcane prices.
The farmers even cooked food right on the National Highway, resulting in a huge traffic pileup. Buses coming from Delhi to Roorkee remained stuck for hours.
Notably, the farmers had started an indefinite strike on Monday night by putting their tractors and trolleys outside Gud Mandi on the National Highway. They also pitched a tent there.
led by the president of the Garhwal Mandal branch of the union, Sanjay Chaudhary, the farmers had gathered in Manglaur Gud Mandi on Monday in large number. By noon they had brought their vehicles right on the highway, blocking the usually bustling road. They continued their protest on the second day on Tuesday, slamming the State Government for its alleged apathy to their cause.
The farmers also protested outside Tehsil in Manglaur and the sugar mills in the district, protesting against their dues against their crops not being settled.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Sanjay Chaudhary said, “We shall continue with our protest till the State government addresses our demands. We continue cooking food on the road as we have done on Tuesday till things are settled,” he added.
lending full weight behind the stir, the national president of the union, Gulshan Rorh said, “More than half of the season for sugarcane crops has passed, but till date its price has not been settled. Even the dues of the farmers are yet to be cleared. Thus, the sugar cane growers’ rage against the State Government is fully justified,” he added.
Besides the demand of the clearance of the dues, the union has demanded the State government to repair Gangnahar canal, clean drains and give discounted price on the farming equipment.