BKU seeks OBC quota for Jat Sikhs

Ludhiana, Punjab: The Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) today sought reservation for Jat Sikhs under the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) category and remunerative prices for the farm produce to offset the hike in prices of diesel, petroleum products and other inputs.

Talking to the media after a meeting of the state executive here today, president of the BKU Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said the Jat Sikhs in Punjab would not tolerate discriminatory treatment by the Centre and the government could face the farmers’ wrath in general and the Sikh community in particular at the national level “kisan panchayat” to be held in Delhi on March 27, 2014.

The BKU chief made a fervent plea to the Union Government to review the minimum support prices of rabi crops and announce new prices as per the recommendations of Dr MS Swaminathan Committee.

He said the meeting had urged the Punjab Government to pass the draft Bill prepared for the remission of farm debts on the pattern of reforms effected by Sir Chotu Ram. “The Chief Minister had made several promises in this regard which still remain unfulfilled,” he commented.

Source: The Tribune