BKU stops trains in Patiala district

Patiala, Sep 23 (UNI) Activists of Bharti Kisan Union (Krantikari Group) today blocked rail traffic near the railway crossing number 24 in the district for three hours in support of their demand for raising the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy to Rs 1,500 and for cotton to Rs 4,500.

The Bharti Kisan Union- Ekta had announced ''chakka jam'' of rail traffic in Punjab on Tuesday in support of the demand.

The BKU said ''the Commission for Agriculture Cost and Price recommended at least Rs 1,050 as the MSP for paddy but the government has not increased it beyond Rs 850. This is a great injustice with farmers, especially those of Punjab, who contribute a major chunk to the country's foodgrains stocks.'' They said the Union Government's recent policy to waive off bank loans of farmers had not benefited more than 3 per cent of the state farmers. ''There has to be a concrete step to bail out food growers of the state,'' he added.

BKU activits also stopped trains at Rajpura to press for acceptance of their demands, a report from Rajpura said.

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