Farmers gherao BJP leaders’ houses

Tribune Reporters

Chandigarh/Fazilka, Sept 30

Intensifying their protest against the recently enacted agriculture laws, a large number of farmers, commission agents and labourers, led by former Congress MLA Mohinder Kumar Rinwa, blocked the Fazilka-Abohar national highway near Ghallu village against the farm Acts.

They also waved black flags to protest against former BJP minister and former Fazilka MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani, who had issued a statement in favour of the Acts.

Slam corporate ‘invasion’

• Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee state general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher on Wednesday alleged that the Centre's farm laws were intended to benefit some private players.
• The railway authorities have suspended train services in the state in view of the farmer stir.

Jyani has now been appointed chairman of the coordination committee constituted by state BJP president Ashwani Sharma to mollify and persuade the farmers. Former MLA from Fazilka Mohinder Kumar Rinwa said Jyani should first persuade his former ally — SAD — and then the people of the state.

In Jalandhar, riding on scores of tractors through the city, farmers, farm labourers and transporters protested outside the residences of BJP leaders. They first held a protest outside the residence of ex-Punjab minister Manoranjan Kalia in Central Town and then rode on tractors towards the house of Northwest Delhi MP Hans Raj Hans on Link Road.

The agitating farmers said they would not allow any big political leader in their constituency and all BJP workers and leaders would face a complete boycott.

The farmers said they would not even allow the BJP leaders to step out of their houses and appealed to CM Capt Amarinder Singh to take all political parties and farmer organisations along in the common fight against the Centre over the introduction of the new legislations.

Meanwhile, as many as 2 lakh farmers will join the “Kisan March” starting from the three Takhts to Chandigarh, where the SAD will hand over a memorandum, demanding revocation of the Acts, to the Central Government through the Punjab Governor.

SAD senior vice-president Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal would lead the “Kisan March” from Akal Takht in Amritsar, former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal from Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo and Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra from Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib.