Industrialists, farmers protest proposed hike in price of diesel

“Punjab is already facing problems of power shortage and industrialists have to depend on the generators. As a result the other input charges will also increase and it will be difficult for industry to survive and compete in the global market and will be unable to cater to the needs of the domestic market as industry already has to countenance various problems,” said Darshan Dawar, president of knitwear club.

Bhupinder Shamsher, general secretary of Bharti Kisan union, said that earlier also Rs 5 a litre diesel hike was done and now again a hike has been proposed which will make farming costlier.

Today farmer unions also conducted a meeting at Punjabi Bhawan in which they demanded MSP of wheat as minimum Rs 1,800 per quintal. Shamsher said, “If diesel prices are increased further, we will have to add expenses, because we hardly get power.”