Farmers associated with the Bharatiya Kisan Union's Tikait faction have entered the seventh consecutive day of their sit-in protest outside the Ganna Bhawan in Meerut's Civil Lines area. The agitation, which continued on Sunday, centers on long-pending payments for sugarcane and alleged malpractices in the procurement process across mills in western Uttar Pradesh.
Leaders Issue Stern Warning to Government
Addressing the gathering of farmers, BKU's national spokesperson, Rakesh Tikait, issued a clear warning to the state administration. He emphasized that the protest would be intensified if the government failed to address their core demands. Tikait stressed the necessity of a prolonged struggle, stating that staying put at protest sites, even through the nights, was crucial to securing their rights. "Movements alone bring outcomes," he asserted, rallying the farmers.
Tikait criticized the government's approach, accusing it of double standards. He pointed out the paradox where farmers' old tractors are stopped citing pollution norms, while government trucks are allowed to operate in cities round the clock. As a mark of protest, he warned that trucks entering cities like Muzaffarnagar could be stopped by the agitating farmers.
Core Demands and Symbolic Demonstrations
The farmers have put forth a specific list of demands for the authorities. Their primary concerns include:
- The immediate clearance of all pending dues from the Kinauni sugar mill.
- Ensuring uniform and fair operation of all six mills in the region.
- Rolling back the recent hike of 15 paise per quintal in sugarcane transportation charges.
During the protest, the farmers employed powerful symbolism to draw attention to their plight. They displayed a massive 15-foot-long sugarcane stalk, which they named "Benami Badshah." In a dramatic gesture, they burnt sugarcane outside the gates of the Ganna Bhawan while raising slogans against the administration and mill owners.
Allegations of Corruption and Irregularities
Earlier in the protest, BKU district president Anurag Chaudhary leveled serious allegations of corruption against officials of the sugarcane department and several sugar mills. He claimed that five societies and mills in western UP are involved in systematic irregularities.
Chaudhary provided specific examples, alleging that weight norms are being violated at the Mohiuddinpur and Mawana mills. He claimed there is an unjust deduction of 2% during the weighing of cane. Furthermore, he accused the mills of unfair practices regarding cane varieties, stating that types of sugarcane previously recommended to farmers are now being rejected at the procurement stage, causing significant financial loss to the cultivators.
Tikait outlined the future course of action, stating that the union would first attempt to hold talks with the Chief Minister. "If our concerns are ignored, a major protest will be held in Lucknow," he declared. He also mentioned that a separate movement would be launched to protect the Aravali hills, indicating a broadening of the farmers' environmental concerns.
