Jammu, Aug 28: Apni Party on Monday paid rich tributes to the two martyrs namely Sardar Puran Singh, and Ramesh Lal who laid down their lives during a movement in 1991 in support of farmers.
Both these farmers became victims of violent response to the peaceful demonstration in Vijaypur in the year 1991 that demanded water, electricity and other facilities for the farmers.
To honour the martyr farmers, a procession was also taken out in Vijaypur that was led by S. Manjit Singh and large numbers of prominent citizens, PRIs, farmers, and other people after they offered floral tributes to Sardar Puran Singh and Ramesh Lal.
While recalling their sacrifices, the Former Minister expressed his concern over the plight of the farmers which has become worse than 1991’s situation. “That time the farmers came on the roads against the policies of the then government. However, the situation has not changed for these farmers who feed the entire Jammu and Kashmir as well as the nation. The demands of the farmers are still unchanged because their issues remained unresolved for decades,” he said.
Singh said that the farmers are still confronting issues like nill availability of canal water to the tale-end villages, unscheduled power cuts, excessive electricity bills, irregular drinking water, demand for installation of more hand pumps for drinking facilities at the villages, subsidized seeds from the Agricultural Department, issue of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) interest rate/payment of the installments, demand for enhancement of compensation for the losses of crops due to fire incidents or natural calamities etc.
“The situation for farmers largely remains the same, and the government has ignored them. However, the situation at present time is more difficult for them,” he added.
He said that the Apni Party is committed to supporting and fulfilling the demands of the farmers who are considered the backbone of the rural economy.
