PATIALA: A senior BJP leader was gheraoed by the farmers in Bhawanigarh block of Sangrur district on Friday while holding a meeting with the party workers. The police reached the spot however the farmers did not let go the BJP leader for around three hours and staged protest outside the meeting venue.
The farmers claimed they gheraoed the BJP leader Dinesh Kumar, general secretary (organisation) Punjab after getting input about his visit to hold a meeting at Aggarwal Bhawan in Bhawanigarh. The farmers sought an assurance from the BJP leaders and workers to not to hold any meeting in future in Sangrur district or they would face gherao again.
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PATIALA: Farmers have announced to gherao Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) employees if they come to install smart meters in their villages. In some villages, farmer unions have also got made a similar announcement.
PSPCL has around 95 lakh power consumers and it was planning to install 96,000 meters in urban and rural areas of the state as a pilot project. The officials claimed that the installation work started a few days ago. Given the privatisation of electricity, farmer unions in Punjab allege a deep rooted conspiracy behind installation of digital smart meters.
A video of announcement appealing farmers to protest against installation of meters has been making rounds over social media groups, with message: “The ruling Captain government in Punjab has brought a new rule under which a digital meter will be installed with a chip affixed for prepaid electricity. The electricity in our home will be like a mobile recharge and when the money fr
PATIALA: A number of farmers from Sangrur, Patiala and other districts are moving towards Delhi borders despite the dip in the temperature.
The farmer leaders said the fresh batch will replace those who are returning after spending weekly shifts at Delhi borders. Farmers spend a few days at the protest site before leaving and others join to keep the momentum going, said farmer leaders.
An injured village sarpanch of Saphera village of Patiala district returned on Saturday from Delhi border after spending two days. He had got injured in an accident on December 15 when a truck had hit his tractor-trolley. He was travelling with five other villagers and two had lost their lives in the incident.
BKU-Dakaunda (Buta Singh Burjgill) Kul Hind Kisan Federation (Prem Singh Bhangu)
On the next date of hearing, on December 17, these 8 groups were not represented before the court. The petitioner claimed that they were served notice.
Only Bharatiya Kisan Union(Bhanu), which has filed an intervention application in the cases challenging farm laws, appeared before the court through Advocate A P Singh. However, Solicitor General told the Court that BKU(Bhanu) and other farmers unions were not on the same page on the issues.
In this backdrop, the Court adjourned the hearing, observing that the farmers protests can continue without impediment and without breach of peace by protesters and police.