Farmers Movement Archive

Jalandhar district administration fixes 9 places for protests

Jalandhar, December 19In order to ensure minimum hindrance to the residents during demonstrations by people, the district administration has designated nine places in the district for the purpose of peaceful protests.Divulging the details, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori on Saturday said these places had been carefully selected to ensure that normal life was not at all disturbed during protests by political parties or other organisations.He said the PUDA ground opposite the Tehsil Complex, Desh Bhagat Yaadgar Hall, Burlton Park, Dushera Ground in Jalandhar Cantonment, the Improvement Trust ground, Kartarpur, the grain market, Bhogpur, on the western side of Kapurthala Road (Nakodar), Grain Market village Saifawala (Phillaur) and the Nagar Panchayat complex, Shahkot, had been identified for protests outside the city.The Deputy Commissioner said these places had been designated for the purpose of peaceful protests with several riders. He said the protesters would have to seek prior permission from the Commissioner of Police or the Sub-Divisional Magistrates concerned, whichever was applicable, before the protest. Likewise, Ghanshyam Thori said no weapon like knives, lathis or others would be allowed during the protest.The Deputy Commissioner further said the organisers of the protest would have to give an undertaking to ensure a peaceful march and protests with marshals at each relevant junction. He further said the organisers/protesters would be responsible for any loss of human life or property during the protest.He said these orders, being issued in pursuance of circular issued by the Department of Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management, Punjab, with reference to CWP No. 28061 ‘Varinder Pal Singh vs State of Punjab’ would remain in force for the next two months.Candlelight march for agitating farmersJalandhar: Congress councillors Balraj Thakur and Harsharan Kaur led a candlelight march in support of protesting farmers on Saturday. The march commenced from Mithapur chowk and concluded at Shivani Park in Model Town. Residents lit up candles and paid tributes to nearly 20 farmers who lost their lives during the protest. Councillors said their objective was to awaken the Centre to concede to the demands of farmers and repeal the new farm laws. TNS24 deceased protesters to be paid tributes todayJalandhar: A poster of ‘Shradhanjali Diwas’ to be observed on Sunday for farmers who breathed their last during the protests in Delhi reads ‘Marke marde roz anekan, marke jiunda tawan tawan, apni shahdat naal likh challe haan, sameyan da sirnawa’. Massive demonstrations have been planned all over Doaba from 10 am to 1 pm, including at the Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner office, Sanghowal toll plaza (Mehatpur), Phillaur and Nakodar, among other spots and demand the Centre to revoke controversial agri laws. The Bhartiya Kisan union (Rajewal), Bhartiya Kisan Union (Qadian), Kirti Kisan Union, Pendu Mazdoor Union, Doaba Kisan Union, Doaba Sangharsh Committee and Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, among others, will be organising protests. The kisan unions will address residents on farm issues and a kirtan will also be held outside the Deputy Commissioner office. Hoardings bearing photographs of 23 farmers and Sant Baba Ram Singh dot the city and neighbouring villages. Amarjot Singh, youth chief, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal), said, “In 1907 farmers protested for nine months against the Britishers for their land rights. These 24 martyrs will be remembered for generations. It’s for the first time in 100 years that a farmers’ stir has gone on for this long.” Fauja Singh, a resident of Subhana village, said, “In 1907 men, women and children headed to Lyallpur (now in Pakistan) with cattle, goats and sheep to protest against the ordinances brought by the Britishers. This movement is three-months old, but finds its roots in the resolve shown by peasants a century ago.” — Aparna Banerji

The Tribune

2020-12-20