Excelsior Correspondent
VIJAYPUR, Mar 25: Hundreds of people today blocked Jammu Pathankot Highway in protest against damage of protection wall (Bandh) on Basanter River and demanded compensation from the Government for the losses, farmers have suffered in Ramgarh due to floods.
Led by former Minister and Senior Congress leader Manjit Singh, the protesters assembled at Vijaypur where they held demonstration in the middle of the Jammu Pathankot road disrupting traffic movement for nearly an hour.
The protesters were demanding compensation for the farmers while shouting slogans against the Government for its failure to redress their (farmers) grievances.
Speaking on the occasion, Manjit Singh said Government should take appropriate action with regard to compensation to the flood affected farmers whose fields have become unsuitable for cultivation.
Singh said that the people have been without ration while their cattle without fodder since their crops were damaged in the flood water, adding the Government should come forward to help them.
“Poor farmers should be provided free ration, fodder for cattle and help in desilting of fields,” he demanded, while stating that electricity bills of the flood hit farmers should be waived off whether it is water pump charges since they cannot bear the burden after the damage to their crops.
He warned the Government that if their demands were not accepted, they are prepared to come on roads again and launch a decisive agitation against the Government.
He hoped that the Government will not leave the farmers on the mercy of God and instead come to the help of the helpless farmers of Vijaypur.
Later, the protestors took out a protest march towards the SDM Vijaypur where they staged a sit-in in front of his office. After two hours of demonstration, they handed over a memorandum to the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed through SDM Vijaypur.
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