Farmers in Jammu and Kashmir’s Hiranagar took out a protest march for redressal of their various issues including revocation of internet ban and reassignment of J&K to the notice of the government.
The farmers under the leadership of Bani Lal Kandely marched for 10 kilometres from Kore Punnu. The protestors mainly had four demands, compensation to be given farmers who have incurred losses, removal of internet ban, restore the statehood of J&K, and local youth be given employment.
“The government should encourage us to keep the farmers and agriculture alive. Agriculture should be given the status of mini-industry based on this, farmers should also be provided with subsidies,” Govind Ram, a farmer told ANI.
Govind Ram also said that the residents of Hiranagar have been disturbed for a very long time. He stated an example of a recent incident in how two farmers haven’t been compensated by the government after losing their crop to the rains.
The farmers wanted the government to lift the internet ban slapped on them since August 5 post the revocation of article 370. Some of the youth who had also joined the protest raised the issue of unemployment. They demanded that the youth of Hiranagar be given employment opportunities by the government. The locals have been under severe distress because of massive unemployment in the village.
“The youth here have not been provided with any benefits even after the reservation. I request the central government to properly implement the reservation of these people and they should further be given employment opportunities,” Ram Paul, another farmer told ANI.
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