Kisan Andolan 2.0: Farmer unions stand by families of kin held in Haryana

Hyderabad: On Thursday, Kisan Majdoor Morcha and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) held a press conference at Kisan Bhawan, Chandigarh, attended by families of the three farmers arrested by Haryana Police under false cases.

The farmers have been protesting for a minimum guaranteed price among other demands. They have completed more than 70 days and were also organising rail roko on the Shambhu track for the release of arrested farmers in Haryana.

Addressing the media Jaisingh Jalbera, father of jailed farmer Navdeep Singh Jalbera; Amarjeet Khatkar, father of Anish Khatkar; Jaisingh Jalbera, Jasbir Singh, father of Gurkirat Singh said that their sons have gone to jail for carrying out a peaceful protest for the rights of crores of farmers and they are with their sons is in all the future decisions taken by both the forums.

Mistreatment from the police

They said that the three farmer leaders were treated by the police in a way which is not acceptable in any democracy.

Farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher, Manjit Singh Rai, Kaka Singh Kotra, Amarjeet Singh Mohri, Abhimanyu Kohar, Sukhjeet Singh, Gurinder Bhangu, Manjeet Ghumana, Harikesh Kabarchha were present in the press conference.

Activities for 100 days of protests

Farmer leaders said that on completion of 100 days of the Morcha on May 22, lakhs of farmers will gather at Shambhu, Khanauri, Dabwali, and Ratanpura fronts and strengthen the fronts.

Kisan yatras will be started in Haryana from May 7, which will visit hundreds of villages of Haryana and will bring to the attention of the people the violations, atrocities and atrocities committed by the BJP government against farmers, labourers and youth in the last 10 years.

On May 19, a state-level rally of Haryana will be organised in Kaithal in which thousands of farmers will participate.

Unlawful arrests

The farmer unions leading the Kisan Andolan 2.0 claimed that the BJP did not show up for the open discussion with the farmers even when the debate was proposed by the BJP leaders.

Farmer leaders also claimed that the Punjab Police arrested the farmers for showing black flags when they questioned the BJP candidate in Moge. Farmer leaders warned the Punjab Government and Punjab Police to stop torturing farmers and labourers at the behest of the BJP and take immediate legal action against BJP leaders who pelted stones at farmers.

Farmer leaders asked the Punjab government to issue appropriate compensation as soon as possible for the crops damaged due to hailstorms in Punjab.

The farmers had earlier announced to block the Shambhu railway track on April 9 demanding the release of the youth and other administrative demands, but the administration broke the promise to the farmers and did not release the youth. Due to this, farmers permanently blocked the Shambhu railway track since April 17.

Punjab Police tried to stop the farmers from moving towards the railway track, but the farmers managed to block the railway track by removing all the obstacles. Farmer leaders announced that the railway track will remain there until the youth are released. It was also announced that more railway tracks would be blocked in the coming days.