Farmers on dharna outside Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel's house over stray cattle menace

Tribune News Service

Ambala, December 12

Enraged over stray cattle menace, farm activists, under the banner of the BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh), today gathered outside the residence of Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel with stray animals in their tractor-trailers, and launched a dharna there.

Made repeated requests

Besides damaging crops, stray cattle often lead to road accidents causing loss of life. Despite repeated requests, the district administration and the government have failed to curb this menace. Tejveer Singh, BKU (SBS) Spokesman

The farmers brought over 200 stray cattle in around 30 tractor-trailers from across the district and gathered near the city grain market. They took out a protest march, raised anti-government slogans and reached outside the MLA’s residence.

They blocked the main road outside MLA’s residence by parking their tractor-trailers there and refused to end their dharna till a permanent solution was found to check the stray cattle menace.

BKU (SBS) spokesman Tejveer Singh said, “Cattle not only damage crops, they also often become cause of fatal mishaps. Despite repeated requests, the administration and the government have failed to check this menace.”

Ambala City SDM Darshan Kumar and police officials reached the grain market and unsuccessfully tried to pacify the protesters.

Around 3.30 pm, the farmers with tractor-trailers laden with stray cattle started leaving the grain market. The police officials tried to stop them at the gate of the grain market and then near the MLA’s house, but did not succeed. The farmers and police officials had heated arguments and the barricades put up there were broken by the farmers.

BKU (SBS) chief Amarjeet Mohri said, “The farmers are struggling to protect their crops. A similar protest was held earlier this year and we were assured that the matter would be resolved, but nothing has happened so far. The government should take responsibility for damage caused by stray cattle. It should compensate the victims and also compensate the farmers for the fuel expenses borne by them in bringing cattle to Ambala City from across the district. We will continue the dharna till the demands are not met.”

Ambala Deputy Commissioner Dr Shaleen said, “There are 11 nandishalas in the district and they are ready to accept these stray animals. But the farmers have been raising some other demands as well. A team of officers is working on this issue and we are likely to see a resolution soon.”

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