Mahapanchayat to protest lathicharge, water cannons use by police on farmers

  • | Thursday | 7th February, 2019

BIJNOR: Farmers under the banner of Azad Kisan Union have decided to hold the ‘Kisan Bachao’ mahapanchayat Raseedpur Garhi on February 12. Our demand is that all cases be withdrawn from the farmers and sugarcane dues be cleared by Feb 11. This comes a day after they had deferred the decision following promises that all pending sugarcane dues would be met by February 11. The mahapanchayat will protest the police high handedness against farmers when they tried to mass immolate themselves over pending sugarcane dues two days ago.Talking to TOI, national convenor of Azad Kisan Union, Rajendra Singh , said, “Administration has misled us. After all we have decided to hold ‘Kisan Bachao Mahapanchaya’.

BIJNOR: Farmers under the banner of Azad Kisan Union have decided to hold the ‘Kisan Bachao’ mahapanchayat Raseedpur Garhi on February 12. This comes a day after they had deferred the decision following promises that all pending sugarcane dues would be met by February 11. The mahapanchayat will protest the police high handedness against farmers when they tried to mass immolate themselves over pending sugarcane dues two days ago.Talking to TOI, national convenor of Azad Kisan Union, Rajendra Singh , said, “Administration has misled us. During the lathicharge, police have detained nine farmers including me. Later, officials held talks with us and assured us that dues will be cleared by Feb 11 and no sections will be imposed on the farmers. But they have registered a case against the farmers under serious charges. It came to our knowledge that one side was pacifying the farmers by making false assurances, while a few govt officials gave go ahead for further action.”The farmers union leader said that they had interacted with their peers and other organisations on the issue and have then decided to hold the mahapanchayat.“Anger is seeping among the farmers. Now it is matter of self-respect. We had have interaction with the farmers and some farmer organisations over the issue. Extent of the atrocities by police can be assessed that they did not spare even the old farmers and police made them run around one kilometre, thrashing them. After all we have decided to hold ‘Kisan Bachao Mahapanchaya’. Our demand is that all cases be withdrawn from the farmers and sugarcane dues be cleared by Feb 11. Apart from this, officials indulged in applying lathicharge be suspended immediately.” Singh added.The strategy, Singh said would involve inviting farmer outfits from other state and allowing them to be part of the mahapanchayat.The movement may prove to be a big jolt for the BJP in the upcoming polls. Opposition parties like the Samajwadi party are planning to raise the issue in the Vidhan Sabha. SP MLA from Nagina, Manoj Paras said that he would raise the issue in the assembly as the police action reflected the anti-farmer attitude of both the government and the police.

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

NYOOOZ FRIEND

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.


Stay updated with all the Meerut Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.

Related Articles