Unions condemn use of tear gas shells on farmers at Shambhu

Amritsar, February 21

Even as the protest by various farmer unions, members of which have not yet gone to participate in the Delhi march, continues outside the residences of district BJP leaders and at three toll plazas in the district, the widespread use of tear gas shells and rubber bullets on their counterparts at Haryana borders has angered the community in large.

The farmers, who are associated with the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and have not yet moved towards Delhi as their respective unions stated that their unions were not in favour of the Delhi march, strongly condemned the use of violent means to stop farmers from reaching Delhi.

Kuljeet Singh Malawali, a farmer, said, “The farmers who are not associated with any union too are sad and angry as the government has tried to use force to gag the voice of dissidents instead of accepting their genuine demands.” Singh said the violence would only result in increasing the number of protesters at the agitation site.”

Gurnam Singh, another farmer, said, “A farmer was allegedly killed and many dozens others were injured. This has been done by a democratically elected government.” He said if the government was not ready to fulfill the demands, it should not have made such promises in the first place.

Meanwhile, the protest by the farmer unions associated with the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha continues outside the residences of BJP leaders Rajinder Mohan Singh Chinna and Amarpal Singh Bony Ajnala. The protest at the three toll plazas — Kathunagal, Manawala and Chiddan — has been continued since February 17 as the farmers have made these free for the commuters.