NH-5 blocked in Rampur in solidarity with national cause, over local issues
Rampur, February 16
Farmers and labourers blocked the National Highway 5 for more than two hours following a nationwide call here today. The protest was held at Nirath in the Rampur subdivision, 110 km from Shimla. The protesters blocked the highway from 12.30 pm to 3.10 pm.
The protesters accused SJVN, which is building the 210MW Luhri Hydroelectric Project, of usurping the rights of the affected people. They also protested against the “injustice” being done to farmers at the national level.
The protesters were led by former MLA Rakesh Singha, CPM State Secretary Omkar Shad, and Himachal Pradesh Bar Association President Dilip Kayastha.
People from 16 panchayats in the project-affected area had reached Nirath, with a significant presence of women protesters.
The protesters took out a rally in Nirath bazaar before blocking the highway.
Nirath Panchayat head Reena Thakur said the radius of 300-600 metre that the project builder had kept for the affected area was completely wrong. “If SJVN wants to run 210MW Luhri Hydroelectric Project, it should understand the problems of the affected people.”
Dehra Panchayat head Saroj Bala said earlier too, labourers, farmers, and the general public had joined forces for their rights, but the government seems to be ignoring their protest. “The government and project developers need to address the concerns of the people or they should scrap the project,” Saroj added.
State secretary of CPI(M) Omkar Shad said the farmers and labourers were protesting against various problems of farmers. “There is a nationwide call for protest, but we have local issues too,” Shad said.
Dilip Kayastha, president of Himachal Pradesh High Court Bar Association, said in the past also the government has woken up only due to the agitation. “Whether it is the state government or the Centre, they are anti-farmer,” he added. Kayastha said efforts were made to stop farmers from going to Delhi which is not the India-Pakistan border. “Farmers will now fight for their rights in every area,” he added.
Farmers leader and former MLA Rakesh Singha said, “Whether it is a farmers’ movement at the national level or at the state level, farmers are not going to stop. Farmers of Himachal Pradesh are uniting now.”
