Farmers to stage protest outside Legislative Assembly on March 20

The Himachal Kisan Sabha and Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers Association have announced plans to hold a major protest outside the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on March 20 to raise their concerns over various problems affecting farmers. The decision was made during a Joint State Committee meeting of the association held on Sunday.

Pushpendra Tyagi, national in-charge of All India Kisan Sabha, highlighted the national and international challenges facing farmers, stressing there is a widespread attack on agriculture across India. He pointed out that, like in Himachal Pradesh, where farmers are being displaced from their land, the government is handing over agricultural land to corporates nationwide, leading to the eviction of farmers.

“The Union Budget presented by the Finance Minister clearly shows farmers are being neglected by the government,” Tyagi said. He announced a national convention on the land problem would be organised in September at the All India level.

Dr Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, President of Himachal Kisan Sabha, emphasised many farmers in the state have very little land for livelihood. He expressed concern even small plots near homes or on government land are being taken away. He called for unity among the people, saying collective action would force the government to make decisions in favour of farmers. He criticised the government for allocating land to big capitalists and industrialists, but not to farmers.

Rakesh Singha, convener of the National Apple Growers Association and former Theog MLA, urged farmers to form organisations focused on land problems and unite for their cause. He accused the department of disregarding laws while displacing people and noted even the Supreme Court had raised concerns on the problem. “The Forest Rights Act, 2006 and the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, are not being properly implemented in the state. Even though the government has provided land to flood victims and dam-affected people, it has not been allocated in their names yet,” Singha said.

Sanjay Chauhan, convener of the Joint Kisan Morcha, reminded the gathering that Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the right to live with dignity. While respecting the law, he urged farmers to unite and demand changes to laws and acts in their favour. “If laws can be amended for big corporations, they must also be amended for farmers. This will only happen if farmers organise and show their collective strength,” he concluded.