CHANDIGARH: Punjab’s farmers registered their strong protest against India’s economic policies “towards the state when they organized a week long market strike. No wheat was brought to the markets during the week beginning May 1 on a call issued jointly by the Bharti Kisan Union and six over ground Akali groups.
The farmers are critical of the support price fixed by the Indian government for wheat at Rs 280 per quintal which they say is almost half the current international price of the commodity.
Lakhs of farmers responded to the strike call. These included not only the Sikhs but also belonging to other communities. But most farmers are bound to bring their produce to markets later as they have a poor holding power. Thus India will substantially fulfill its procurement target of 5.5 million tons from Punjab in about a month.
No militant or Akali group has so far favored the idea of areas under wheat and rice crops.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 15, 1992
