Farmers Stage Protest in Freezing Cold, Turn Anger into Song and Dance at Meerut

Meerut: Hundreds of farmers have been staging a sit-in at the Ganna Bhawan in Meerut for the past four days, protesting against alleged arbitrariness and commission-based practices in sugar mills and the state sugar department. Despite the biting cold, the farmers expressed their anger by lighting bonfires during the day and later engaging in songs, music, and dance at night, turning frustration into solidarity. Chants like “Apni to jaise-taise kat jaayegi, aapka kya hoga Janab-e-Aali” reflected both their resolve and sharp criticism of the authorities.

The protest is being led under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union by district president Anurag Chaudhary. The farmers’ key demands include increasing sugarcane indents and curbing the alleged tyranny of the mills. During the protest, they locked all offices at Ganna Bhawan and set up makeshift camps outside the office of the District Sugar Officer, sending a clear message: the agitation will continue until their demands are met.

Supply Issues and Economic Losses
Farmers allege irregularities in Mohiuddinpur and Mawana sugar mills. For instance, if a farmer has an indent of 18 quintals but brings 24 quintals of sugarcane, the mill refuses to accept the excess. Conversely, if more cane is accepted on a particular day, the next indent is increased proportionally, adding to the farmer’s burden. This practice not only causes financial losses but also prevents timely sale of sugarcane still standing in the fields.

Farmers also claim that varieties of sugarcane supplied by the mills themselves are now being rejected, while other mills do not exhibit such issues. This, they argue, indicates deliberate harassment by certain mills.

Talks Fail to Yield Solution
On Wednesday, ADM City Brijesh Kumar and Deputy Sugar Commissioner Rajiv Rai met the farmers, but no agreement was reached. Additional negotiations in the evening and late at night also failed. Officials present during the talks included ADM City Brijesh Singh, District Sugar Officer BK Patel, CO Civil Lines Abhishek Tiwari, and General Managers of the mills. Although District Magistrate VK Singh assured a prompt resolution over the phone, farmers have refused to back down without concrete action.

Cold Weather Tests Protesters’ Resolve
Despite the severe cold affecting several farmers’ health, their determination remained intact. Through songs, ragini, and dance, the farmers showcased unity and resilience. Key participants included Meja Chindodi, Harsh Chahal, Bittu, Bhopal, Satyaveer, Deshpal, Naresh, Sunil, Anoop, Neeraj, and Sunny Pradhan. The farmers made it clear that the protest will continue until they receive justice for their sugarcane.

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