Apple farmers block traffic at Hatkoti

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 21

Apple farmers under the Kisan Jameen Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (KJBSS) on Monday staged a protest march from Hatkoti to Saraswati Nagar and blocked traffic for three hours at Hatkoti against the government’s eviction drive. They demanded an immediate arrest and suspension of the DFO, Rohru, for allegedly cutting apple trees of three farmers.

The protest was supported and led by farmer leaders Rakesh Singha, Theog MLA, Dr Kuldip Tanwar, president, HKS, and Sanjay Chauhan, former Shimla Mayor and Harish Gumta, convener of samiti .

Addressing a rally, they demanded that Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur should stop the drive immediately .

They demanded that the government should file a fresh proposal before the High Court to regularise land up to five bighas for small farmers, who neither had land holdings, nor any other source of income to sustain their families.

The evicted small farmers should be compensated and orchards should be given on lease to them, Singha demanded. Carrying banners, the apple farmers raised slogans against the DFO, Rohru.

The High Court had asked the aggrieved farmers to file their applications in the court. But the farmers insisted that the police should file an FIR in the case to fix the responsibility.

Accompanied by the DSP and SHO, the Rohru SDM rushed to the spot and asked protesters to lift the jam, assuring them that the government would take action in two days. The farmers also raised anti-government slogans.