Sonepat DC, farmers meet over plea to unblock NH-44

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 14

Taking up a writ petition regarding the protesting farmers on the National Highway-44, the Supreme Court has asked the Sonepat district administration to provide passage to the common people on the Kundli-Singhu border.

In compliance of these orders, Sonepat DC Lalit Siwach held a meeting with the farmers’ representatives here on Tuesday. The DC informed the farmers that while taking up a writ petition filed by Monicca Agarwaal, the SC ordered the protesting farmers to shift to one side of the road on the Kundli-Singhu border on the NH-44.

Decision on Friday

We can’t take any decision at the moment. We will discuss the matter in the SKM meeting scheduled for Friday and then take the final decision. — Farm leaders

Siwach said the cooperation of the farmers was needed so as to comply with the SC directions. He said the construction work on the NH-44 had also been halted for a long time due to the farmers’ protest, which was causing inconvenience to the public. In such a situation, if the farmers unblock one side of the road then the construction of the NH can be completed soon.

On the DC’s request, the farmers’ representatives have assured to give a positive reply in this matter.

Meanwhile, Manjeet Singh Rai, president, Bharat Kisan Sangharsh Committee, Doaba, who led the farmers’ delegation in the meeting with the administration, said, “We obey the SC, but the farmers have never blocked the traffic or any highway. The road was blocked by the Haryana and Delhi governments.”

Rai said the matter would be discussed in the meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and after that any decision would be announced.

Also, farm leaders – Mukesh Chandra of Doaba Kisan Sangharsh Committee and Major Singh Poonawal, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), Punjab — said they had clearly told the administration that they wanted to go to Delhi but the government had forced them to sit at the borders. “The roads were blocked by the Delhi Police, not by the farmers. The Delhi Police have constructed a concrete wall with iron roads on the NH-44 and blocked the traffic from their side. Besides, the traffic was blocked at various points due to broken roads and government apathy,” the farm leaders told the district administration.