Several farmers’ unions in poll bound Punjab have come together to protest against the anti-farmer policies of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government and have announced a State-wide agitation from July 26. The unions have blamed the ‘anti-farmer’ policies of State government for the rising number of farmer suicides in Punjab and are demanding an immediate debt waiver for farmers. “We are demanding that all private or government loans outstanding against the farmers and labourers should be waived. We have decided to stage protest rallies pressing for the demand. From July 26 till July 28, we will protest at all district headquarters,” Nirbhay Singh, leader of the Kirti Kisan Union told The Hindu . Prominent farmer unions that have come together include the Kirti Kisan union, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahana), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakaundhk), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Krantikari) and Punjab Kisan Sangrash Commiittee (Azad). Seeks survey on suicides He said the protests would be held across Malwa, Doaba and Majha region of the State and would continue for three days. “We will submit a memorandum of our demands to respective deputy commissioners of the district. If our demands our not met we will then intensify our agitation,” said Mr. Singh. Mr Singh called on the government to conduct a survey to record the exact number of suicides and the number of debt- related suicides and provide compensation to the families. “Consistently lower prices of agricultural produce disproportionate to the prices of farm inputs and mounting indebtedness from both institutional and non-institutional sources have resulted farmers landing in a debt trap,” said Mr. Singh adding that exploitation of farmers by informal money lenders has deepened distress of farmers in Punjab. Congress threat Congress party legislators on Sunday decided to submit “mass resignations” if the Supreme Court decides against Punjab in the ongoing Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue. “All party MLAs in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha will submit mass resignations if the Supreme Court decides the SYL canal case against Punjab,” Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab Congress President, announced at a press conference in Jalandhar. ‘Will safeguard our water’ “While we respect the Supreme Court, we are also duty bound towards Punjab, hence we will find legislative and constitutional ways and means to safeguard our water,” he said. Capt Amarinder said also said an adverse verdict would be the result of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s failure to act on time. “I'll also resign from the Parliament and after submitting resignations, we will go to the people and seek their support and vote. Once we form the government in 2017, we will initiate legal and constitutional measures to safeguard our waters like we did in 2004 when we enacted Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004,” he said. They want immediate debt waiver and compensation for the kin of those who committed suicide