Punjab: Farmers stage dharnas outside residences of ministers

Farmers and farm workers today staged dharnas outside the residences of the ministers and other leaders of Punjab as per the programme announced earlier to press for their demand seeking Rs 40,000 per acre over damage of cotton.
Dharnas were staged outside the residence of food and supplies minister Adaish Partap Singh Kairon, Markfed chairman Jarnail Singh Wahad in Nawanshahar, Rajya Sabha member Balwinder Singh Bhunder and chief parliamentary secretary Prem Mittal in Mansa.
The talks between the farmers' organisations and chief minister Parkash Singh Badal here about a fortnight back had remained inconclusive.
Meanwhile, over 100 farmers marching towards the residence of chief parliamentary secretary Mohinder Kaur Josh in Hoshiarpur were detained by the police and later released, police said.

They were gathering near ITI on Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur road when the police came into action to thwart their action plan, police said.
In Sangrur, the protestors staged dharna in front of the residence of finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa despite barricades put up by the police while they picketed the residence of agriculture minister Tota Singh in Moga.
However, the dharnas by farmers remained "peaceful", police said.
BKU (Ekta) General Secretary Sukhdev Singh said the eight farmers unions and Khet Mazdoor union were forced to continue their agitation and made it clear that unions have not withdrawn their protest but have only changed its mode.