Yamunanagar, December 29

Hundreds of farmers today held a panchayat and blocked the Saharanpur-Yamunanagar Road for over an hour demanding the release of sugarcane payments. The farmers under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union protested and raised slogans against the management of the Saraswati Sugar Mills, Yamunanagar. BKU leaders comprising state coordinator Babu Ram, district president Sanju Gundiana, state secretary Harpal Singh Sudhal and advocate Randhir Singh Nagla said Saraswati Sugar Mills had started its crushing operation on November 25. However, the mill management didn’t start making payments to farmers even after 35 days of commencement since crushing season. They alleged the mill management had been making payments to farmers after 14 days of supplying sugarcane to the mill in the past. Sanju Gundiana said the farmers were forced to take loans from ‘arthiyas’ to buy fertilisers and to meet their expenses. When the farmers held a panchayat at the sugar mill yard today, BKU leaders were called by the management for talks. When the talks did not reach any conclusion, BKU activists blocked the Saharanpur road. The agitating farmers lifted the blockade after DC SS Phulia spoke to the mill management over the phone. assured them that the mill would start making payments soon.