Resolution moved for relief to small farmers

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 28

The Assembly today adopted a resolution seeking time from the court for removal of encroachments by small and marginal farmers till the state government formulated a policy, taking into consideration the legal and the humane angles involved.

Moving the resolution, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that the House should urge the court to give temporary relief in removal of encroachments on government and forest land till a solution to the problem was found. “A large number of small farmers have encroached upon very little land and action against them cannot be equated with those who had made huge encroachments,” he said.

Virbhadra said the government had to safeguard the interest of such farmers and find a way out. “What is painful is the objectionable behaviour of the BJP while the House was discussing such an important issue,” he said. He said this just showed that the BJP was anti farmer. The resolution was passed by the house amidst the pandemonium as the BJP legislators kept raising slogans while sitting in the well of the House.