Farmers to intensify stir at Hisar mini-secretariat in July

Hisar: On a sit-in outside the mini-secretariat in Hisar for the last 26 days, farmers on Monday announced to intensify their stir on July 5 if their demands of compensation were not met. The protesters under the banner of Pagri Sambhal Jatta Kisan Sangharsh Samiti decided to block all entry and exit points of the government building. They said on June 30, another protest will be held. The Monday meeting was presided over by farm unionists Naresh Sharma (Kharkari), Krishna Bishnoi (Sadalpur), Mahon (Sarsana), and Bhateri Devi (Chuli Khurd). Samiti’s state president Mandeep Natwan said the BJP-JJP leaders visiting their villages will have to face a volley of questions pertaining to farmers’ issues. “Farmers will not buy goods and oil from any mall or fuel station owned by Reliance Industries,” he added. The farm body’s general secretary, Sandeep Siwach, said the insurance company has rejected thousands of claims made by farmers. “After our protest, the administration tried to make them pay the compensation, but only Rs 264 crore has been deposited to the farmers’ accounts while the actual figure stands at Rs 700 crore,” he added. Meanwhile, farm unionists Sardar Kulwant Singh Sandhu, Pahlwan Satbir Barsola, Vikas Sisar, and Ravi Azad also reached the protest site to support the agitating farmers. TNN