Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25

Agriculture Minister Tota Singh today asked Financial Commissioner (Development) G. Vajralingham to inquire into the cases where private sugar mills have taken loans on behalf of cane farmers. “It is a serious matter and strict action should be taken in case anybody is found indulging in such practices,” he said.

He urged the private sugar mills to release the outstanding dues of the farmers at the earliest. “The two private sugar mills owned by AB Group (Ponty Chaddha) have already cleared their dues, while five others still owe Rs221 crore to the cane growers,” he said.

‘Farmer leaders being harassed’

• Hoshiarpur: Representatives of various farmer organisations on Tuesday held a protest outside the district administrative complex in the city 
• They alleged cases were being registered against farmer leaders to sabotage their movement even as no action was taken against defaulting sugar mills
• The protestors who submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner had an argument with him over the matter — OC

Give case to CBI: Cong

• Phagwara: Punjab Congress president Partap Bajwa has demanded a CBI probe into the alleged cheating of farmers by sugar mills in the state
• Starting a series of the dharnas on the matter, Bajwa on Tuesday led a protest at Phagwara Sugar Mill owned by Akali leader Jarnail Singh Wahid
• He asked the CM to call an emergency session of the Vidhan Sabha on issues concerning farmers
• He urged the CM to lead an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the issues. Bajwa also demanded a package for the debt-ridden farmers
• PPCC spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira said a "jail bharo andolan" would be launched soon — OC