Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu shown black flags at Landran

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 11

Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu had to face the wrath of farmers and youth when he visited Landran village here to lay the foundation stone for street drainage work and give grants for various development works.

Despite rain, farmers gathered at the village and showed black flags to Sidhu. They also did not allow the minister to speak on the stage, forcing him to wrap up his programme in minutes.

Young farm leaders Geetinder Singh Gill, Jaspal Singh, Bikker Singh, Jagtar Singh and Gurpreet Singh (both panches), Brij Mohan Sharma, Gurinder Singh and Kamal Landran said there was a huge outcry among farmers. On an appeal of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, all political activities in villages had been suspended.

Though Harcharan Singh Gill, sarpanch of the village, tried to explain the situation to the farmers and urged them not to create obstacles in the way of development, the farmers kept on showing black flags to the minister.

Geetinder said they were not against development and had made it clear to the sarpanch that no matter how many foundation stones were laid and grants checked, political activities would not be allowed in the village due to the peasant struggle. In view of the urgency of the time, Sidhu, under strict police surveillance, laid the foundation stone for the construction of streets and drains at a cost of Rs17 lakh in just 10 to 15 minutes and left the village. He also gave a grant of Rs11 lakh for the cremation ground and the dharamshala.