Showing solidarity with farmer’s of the state, the Dal Khalsa extended its support to the call given by various factions of Bhartiya Kisan Union to boycott grain markets on April 17 and 18 against indifferent approach of the Union government towards their demands.

At a meeting of the executive committee chaired by party president Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib held at party head office, Amritsar on April 13 the organization passed a resolution criticizing Center’s decision to import wheat at higher prices while turning it’s back on the issue of increase of minimum support price.

In a statement, the party secretary Sarbjit Singh Ghuman said the farmers were facing a tough time to make their ends meet since the price they were getting (Rs 650) was far below the actual cost of production which had been calculated at Rs 800 per quintal by agricultural experts and economists.

Pointing out the sad plight of farmers of the state the resolution said the Punjab represents the most painful example of the menace of farmer’s suicides caused by economic hardships to which the successive governments of Centre were responsible in one or the other.

In another decision the party decided to observe the 400th anniversary of Fifth Guru Arjan Dev’s martyrdom in a grand way. The sub-committee has been formed to chalk out programmes and coordinate with other like-minded groups to ensure their involvement said the statement. In a significant development, for the first time, the organization decided to take jatha to
Pakistan on its own to participate in the programmes chalked out by Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to mark the historic event.

The Organization paid rich tributes to those 13 Sikhs who were killed by neo-Nirankaris 28 years ago this day at Amritsar. “They embraced martyrdom to uphold the honour and dignity of Guru Granth Sahib. Hence, they are martyrs of the faith”.

Prominent amongst those who were present in the meet were Jaspal Singh Dhillon, Kanwarpal Singh, Sarabjit Singh Ghuman, Baldev Singh Ajnala, Shinder pal Singh Nawanshahr, Gurdeep Singh Hoshiarpur, Dr Arpal Singh.