Farmers Movement Archive

Full steam to peasant struggle in Hoshiarpur

Our CorrespondentHoshiarpur, December 8The Bharat Bandh call by farmers received full support in Hoshiarpur district. Markets remained closed throughout the day and roads wore a deserted look. Farmers’ organisations blocked all roads to and from the city. During this time, various employee organisations, social organisations, political parties, business organisations and lawyers also gave full support to the Bharat Bandh. Protest demonstrations were held at various places and rallies were also taken out in support of the peasant struggle. The bandh received full support from people in Garhshankar, Dasuya, Mukerian, Tanda and Talwara and markets remained closed throughout the day.The District Bar Association, Christian, Dalit, Sikh, Muslim common fronts, Dana Mandi Arthiya Association, Nai Sabzi Mandi Arthiya Association, shopkeepers’ associations, all organisations of the Roadways, Punbus employees, Left parties and activists of various political parties gave full support opposing the anti-farmer laws. Only emergency services were exempted. Slogans were raised against the Modi government during the dharnas organised at various places, effigies of corporate houses Ambani and Adani were also burnt. Hundreds of people from area’s villages and various political parties gathered in support of Bharat Bandh at Lachowal toll plaza on the 59th day.The employees, led by the Punjab Subordinate Service Federation and Municipal Employees’ Union, took a collective leave and staged a protest against the Central Government at the old town hall in Committee Bazaar. Leaders announced that on December 9, a large convoy of employees led by the Pensioners’ United Front will march from Shambhu Barrier to Delhi at 8 am in support of farmers. After the rally, employees marched from Committee Bazaar, Ghanta Ghar, Kashmiri Bazaar, Purani Dana Mandi, Sabzi Mandi and Gaushala Bazaar to Naloyian Chowk and joined the protests organised by farmers’ organisations at Naloiyan Chowk.Congressmen, led by District Congress Committee president Dr Kuldeep Nanda, staged a sit-in at the district office and attacked the anti-farmer policies of the Modi government. Advocate Rakesh Marwaha, chairman of the Improvement Trust, said former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, but the Modi government at the Centre changed it to ‘Die Jawan, Die Farmer’, for which the country would never forgive him.Shiv Sena’s Punjab Chief Ranjit Rana led the agitation by party workers from Kotwali Bazaar to Ghantaghar, Jalandhar Road, Vegetable Market Khanpuri Gate and different markets.SSP keeps a check on arrangementsSSP Navjot Singh Mahal visited the dharna sites in the city and nearby areas on Tuesday and took stock of the situation and appealed to everyone to remain peaceful. After giving necessary guidelines in view of the call for Bharat Bandh to police officers and employees outside the District Administrative Complex, the SSP visited the Chandigarh bypass, Tanda bypass, Phagwara bypass, Prabhat Chowk, Jalandhar bypass, Dasuya bypass, etc. Along with SP (D) Ravinderpal Singh Sandhu, the SSP reached various places and interacted with protesting farmers. He appealed to farmers to protest in a peaceful manner and emphasised that the situation of peace and law should be maintained.Phagwara bypass blockedAzad Kisan Doaba Sangharsh Samiti and various other peasant organisations raised slogans against the Modi government by blocking the local Phagwara bypass road. Farmer leader Harbans Singh Sangha said Tuesday’s bandh proved that the entire country has stood up for farmers.

The Tribune

2020-12-09