In Uttar Pradesh, the sugarcane farmers under the banner of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan, RKMS, have decided to boycott the Reservation meetings for the coming sugarcane season, to be held tomorrow at Lucknow. The Convenor of the Sangathan, Congress leader BM Singh told our Allahabad Correspondent that he has written a letter to the Chief Minister about the decision of the farmers. He said that farmers have taken the decision in protest against the government which has failed to fulfill its assurances and directives of the Supreme Court and High Courts.  Mr. Singh said that a Mahapanchayat of sugarcane farmers is being held at Kila-parikshat garh in Meerut on the 16th of this month, to discuss future course of action to get their demands implemented.

Announcement

In Uttarakhand, the portals of Badrinath temple situated in the foothills of Garhwal Himalayas were thrown open to devotees on Sunday. The portals were closed with the onset of winters in November last year.

AIR Correspondent reports that the portals of Badrinath shrine were opened in the morning amid chanting of Vedas. The chief priest of the temple performed Pooja on this occasion which was witnessed by a large number of pilgrims who had thronged at Badrinath.

The portals of Kedar Nath temple have already been opened on Saturday and earlier the Gangotri and Yamnotri shrines were also opened on last 24th April on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritya for pilgrims. With the opening of the portals of Badrinath, now all four dhams have been opened.