BKU leads protest against shop seizure in Nagali village

Farmers associated with the Bharatiya Kisan Union staged a demonstration against the district administration at Bhandari Bridge and blocked traffic from 12 noon to 3pm here today. The farmers were demonstrating against the implementation of attachment orders of a shop in Nagali village. The commuters on GT road were stuck in traffic jams for long and criticised the farmers’ move. However, farmer leaders claimed that they had blocked only one side of the road but the police administration completely barricaded the area and blocked traffic completely.

A shopkeeper identified as Sethi from Nagali village took loan from a finance company. Due to Covid outbreak, he failed to repay the loan. Now, he wants to settle with the finance company but they wanted to seize the shop.

District President BKU Karamjeet Singh Nangali said: “The police and district administration tried to vacate a shop-cum-house in the village yesterday. The police tried to evacuate the house and shop forcefully. The shopkeeper was helpless in front of a heavy deployment of police and officials. We intervened in the matter and asked the administration officials to listen to the family. Everyone is aware how Covid affected small businesses and shopkeepers are unable to pay the loans. Instead of listing the family, the administration officials instructed the police to remove the farmer union workers from the spot. The police manhandled farmer leaders.”

The leaders said administration officials had claimed that a handful of farmers were creating nuisance. So, they were there to show strength and not allow the officials to attach the shop. Farmer leaders gave a call to intensify the struggle if the administration tried to seize the shop again.