Farmers Movement Archive

Congressmen hit roads; express solidarity with protesting farmers

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand unit of Congress party took out a protest march in Dehradun on Tuesday to extend support to the Bharat Bandh call of the farmers, who are protesting against the new farm rules. When the Congress members refused to clear the road at Clock Tower, many of them, including state chief Pritam Singh and party's state vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana were taken into preventive detention. Led by Singh, hundreds of Congressmen marched towards the Clock Tower after crossing the Gandhi park. While a group of party members blocked the flow of traffic at Clock Tower, others marched inside the Paltan Bazaar market area. The protesting opposition members also got the shops closed and raised slogans against the BJP government. Dhasmana and other members sat on the road at Clock Tower and the flow of traffic was blocked from all four sides. Despite the requests of senior police officers, the adamant Congress members refused to clear the road. Following which, the Opposition party members were taken into preventive custody and taken to Dehradun police lines. Congress state chief Pritam Singh said, “The bandh was successful and people from all sections of the society came out in support of the farmers. The aim was not to cause any trouble to people but make the government realise that we stand united with the farmers, who work round the year to provide food to us.” Meanwhile, Dhasmana said that the protests would continue till the time the new farm laws are taken back by the Centre. “The decision taken by the BJP government is against the farmers and also the people of the country. This shows the dual face of the BJP government,” he added.

The Times of India

2020-12-09

Dehradun