Farmers Movement Archive

Sigh of relief as Panchkula march ends peacefully

CHANDIGARH: Haryana’s home department, police and local administration heaved a sigh of relief as the four-hour action by the members of various farmers organisations, who had taken out the protest march from Nada Sahib to Panchkula, ended peacefully on Saturday. Amid heavy police arrangements, the farmers who had gathered under banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) used one side of the road and ended the march at Sector 7-8 roundabout of Panchkula, around 100 meters from Chandigarh-Panchkula borders. ADC to Haryana governor received the memorandum from SKM leaders headed by Yogendera Yadav. While BKU Charuni president Gurnam Singh Charuni submitted the memorandum to the managing director of UHBVN and DHBVN, Shashank Anand, at Shakti Bhawan in Panchkula. Later, interacting with journalists after giving the memorandum, Yadav, Charuni and Dadri MLA Sombir Sangwan termed the agitation as a successful, as the farmers restrained themselves from jumping the barricades. Except for Ghahhar bridge where the police had put up double barricading and cemented wall barriers that farmers had to breach, farmers did not violate the route finalised by the police. When a handful of agitators, headed by Jagdeep Singh, wanted to breach Chandigarh barriers, they were persuaded not to by farmer leaders. According to Yadav, Charuni, Sangwan and others, agitation will be intensified in future and the SKM will oppose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab and other states that are going to polls. “ West Bengal injection was just the first dose for BJP and PM Modi. They need to to be given a complete course, hence SKM will go to all the states going to polls and would campaign against BJP to repeat West Bengal. Everything has mellowed down, except Modi’s arrogance,’’ said Yadav. Among those who addressed the gathering included Sangwan Khap president and Dadri MLA Sombir Sangwan, Raj Kaur, an activist from Chandigarh, Suman Hooda, Satyawan, Yogender Yadav and Gurnam Singh Charuni. “SKM had announced the protest march and submission of our protest letter to governor for President of India. Hence, we never had plans to reach governor houses. Our farmers from Haryana had exercised restraint and proved that they are peace loving and law abiding citizens,” said Yadav. Referring to submission of memorandum to Discom authorities, Charuni said it was a fruitful meeting and officials including MD Shashank Anand, chief engineers of two discoms had assured to take up their issues with government and would discuss the same on July 5. “Pending tubewell connection, release of compensation for installation of pillars and transformers and heavy transmission lines were some of the issues that need to be addressed. We will wait for the response and a delegation will meet again,’’ said Charuni.

The Times of India

2021-06-27

Chandigarh