Farmers protest against state for forcible eviction

Farmers under the banner the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Friday lodged a protest outside the District Administrative Complex against the state government over the manner in which farmers were evicted from their protest sites at Shambhu and Khanauri borders.

The farmers put up tents in the PUDA complex and expressed grouse against the government through their speeches for more than three hours. The protest was led by party president Balbir Singh Rajewal of the BKU (Rajewal) and Balwinder S Malli Nangal of the Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee. The members of other unions, including the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and All-India Kisan Khet Mazdoor Sangathan, also participated in the event.

Malli Nangal said, "This is our protest against the state government's highhandedness. They have insulted the farmers, which we have not been able to accept. Our belongings, including tractors, were stolen and now the government is bound to return our stuff. Further, the IT cell of the government has been used to spread venom against the farmers. We shall not tolerate this. Our protests shall grow against the state government in the days to come".

Farmer leaders, including Kashmir Singh from the BKU (Rajewal), said the government was bound to give them compensation for their lost items. "The police are exercising undue powers against us. Punjab is being made a police state. We shall have to fight it out."