Farmers Movement Archive

Admn meets farmers on Day 2 of SKM leader’s fast unto death

Sirsa: Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Baldev Singh Sirsa’s fast unto death entered the second day on Monday. Sirsa is fasting for the release of five farmers arrested in a sedition case and withdrawal of the “secret FIR” registered against 100 farmers who stormed the July 11 meeting of the BJP district executive body. District administration officials held a meeting with the delegation of farmers and advised them to present their case before the court under judicial process. A health department team also examined Baldev Singh Sirsa. Deputy commissioner Anish Yadav (DC), superintendent of police (SP) Arpit Jain and SDM Jaiveer Yadav were present in the meeting between farmers and administration held in the meeting room of the Sirsa mini- secretariat on Monday. Farmers were represented by Lakhwinder Singh, Manjit Singh, Prahlad Singh Bharukhera, Swarna Singh Virk, Gurprem Singh Desujodha and Kamaljit Kaur. For the first time on Monday, the district administration issued a release about the interaction with the farmers and said that representatives of the farmers’ movement had submitted a letter listing their demands to the deputy commissioner in the meeting. The DC said that it was wrong to pelt stones and vandalise the deputy speaker’s vehicle on July 11 and action has been taken against the guilty on the basis of complete investigations and facts. He asked farmers to keep their word according to the judicial process so that the matter is resolved and the general public did not have to face trouble. “It is wrong to block the National Highway, which leads to traffic jams and inconvenience to citizens. Farmers have been provided a place in the local Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium by the district administration, so they can express their views in a peaceful manner,” the DC said. He said representatives leading the farmers’ movement should form a five-member committee and inform the administration so that the round of talks continued. He also urged farmers to keep in mind that law and order was to be maintained. SP Arpit Jain said the July 11 violence took place despite assurances made by farmers in Tohana and Hisar that they would protest peacefully. He asserted that the police administration had taken action against the culprits in full transparency and after thorough investigations. Therefore, he said farmers should present their case before court under the judicial process. He assured that no action had been taken against any innocent person. On Saturday, farm activists started their indefinite protest at the mini-secretariat in Sirsa after holding a mahapanchayat under the leadership of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Rakesh Tikait. On Sunday morning, farmers started a dharna by putting up tents on one side of Barnala road and SKM leader Baldev Singh Sirsa went on fast unto death.

The Times of India

2021-07-20

Gurgaon