Farmers lay siege to houses of Cong leaders in Mohali

Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 2

On a call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, farmers staged a dharna near the residences of two Congress leaders in Mohali as well as Dera Bassi today demanding the early procurement of paddy.

The farmers staged a dharna near the residences of local MLA and former Cabinet Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu in Mohali and senior Congress leader of Dera Bassi Deepinder Singh Dhillon in Zirakpur.

The police had made elaborate security arrangement by putting up barricades on the way to the residences of both leaders besides deputing a large number of policemen to stop the farmers from moving towards their residences. As the police did not allow the farmers to move towards the residences, they staged a sit-in near the barricades.

Addressing the protesting farmers, Jaspal Singh, senior vice-president of Bharti Kisan Union (Lokhowal), said the Samyukt Kisan Morcha had given a call for laying siege to the offices of the district commissioners, but due to holiday and weekly off, the SKM called for laying siege to the residences of the Congress MLAs and ministers. He said that the protest would continue till the procurement of paddy resumed.

Jaspal said if the Central Government was not purchasing the paddy, then the state government should make arrangements for it.

He said no one would be allowed to come out or enter the former minister’s residence.

The farmers also staged a dharna outside the residence of Dhillon in Zirakpur. When the Congress leader was informed about the dharna, he came out and joined in the farmers’ protest. He justified the demand of the farmers.