Farmers Movement Archive

Moga: Farm unions seek withdrawal of cases

Various farm and labour unions, including the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, have condemned the lathicharge and use of water cannons on peacefully protesting farmers in Moga on Thursday.Also read:Farmers lathicharged at Sukhbir Badal's rally in MogaFarmer leader Ruldu Singh Mansa gives up security cover to protest Moga lathichargeThey asked the state government to withdraw criminal case registered against the farmers within a week or the unions would stage an indefinite protest against the district administration outside the mini-secretariat here from September 8.All protesters ‘freed’The police have released all protesters detained during the Thursday incident. “We have released all farmers unconditionally,” said a senior police officer. However, he maintained investigations were in progress.“The brutal act was against the very principle of right to protest peacefully,” claimed Sukhdev Singh Kokri, general secretary, BKU (Ekta).Prem Singh Bhangu, national president, All India Kisan Federation, said: “The police act is unconstitutional and undemocratic, which the Supreme Court has already affirmed in recent cases.”Nirbhai Singh Dhudike, president, Kirti Kisan Union, who convened an emergency meeting of farm unions here today said the farmers had assembled at the Akali rally to question SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on his party’s support to the farm laws while these were being enacted by the NDA government.“It was the democratic right of farmers to ask questions of elected representatives on issues concerning them. The police should not have stopped them from meeting Badal to ask queries,” he maintained. Karamjit Singh, president, Punjab Students Union, demanded strict action against the policemen who resorted to canecharge and use of water cannons.“Many farmers were injured in the incident. Therefore, a criminal case must be registered against the cops responsible for the act,” he claimed.Meanwhile, gangster-turned activist Lakha Sidhana along with supporters staged a protest against the police over the violence. He claimed the farmers were protesting peacefully and demanded withdrawal of criminal cases against farmers. — TNS

The Tribune

2021-09-04

Moga