Yashpal Malik may skip ‘balidan divas’ event

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, February 13

After taking back the decision to oppose the visit of BJP national president Amit Shah, the All-India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) has decided to organise a ‘balidan divas’ function in Ramayan village of the district on February 18.

The AIJASS observes ‘balidan divas’ on February 19 every year to commemorate the death of three persons who were killed during the agitation on the demand of the inclusion of Jats in the other backward class (OBC) category.

Rambhagat Malik, AIJASS spokesperson, said that a programme would be organised near the railway track in Ramayan village on that day. “However, samiti president Yashpal Malik is unlikely to attend the programme. The samiti will observe ‘balidan divas’ in all districts of the state,” he said.

In the past, the samiti had been organising ‘balidan divas’ in Mayyar or Ramayan village of the district.

Farmers to oppose visit

Meanwhile, farmers under the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh will hold a protest in Kheri Chopta village on February 15 in support of their demands.

Suresh Koth, president of the sangh, said that they have decided to hold a protest to oppose the arrival of Amit Shah in Jind.

“The BJP has failed to keep its pre-poll promises to the farmers. We have been holding a dharna in Kheri Chopta village for about a month. The sangh will also lead a protest march to Delhi next week to highlight the issues and problems of the farmers,” Koth said.

MP meets farmers

Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala met farmers at the dharna that had been organised by the Jal Sangharsh Samiti in the mini-secretariat here today.

He said that he had raised the issue of shortage of canal water in the region in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session of Parliament and asked the Union government why adequate water was not being released to the farmers.

The MP has also written a letter to Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari to highlight the issue. He also asked the agitating farmers to accompany him to meet Gadkari for a discussion on the issue.