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Farmer Leaders Give Rail Roko Call For March 10 'Some people still threatening locals'

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 3/4/2024 10:49:08 AM

Chandigarh,Mar 03 Farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Sunday gave a call to the farmers across the nation to reach Delhi on March 6 for a protest while they also gave a four-hour 'rail roko' countrywide call for March 10 in support of their various demands. The two farmer leaders asserted that the farmers' ongoing agitation will be intensified at the existing protest points and will continue till their demands are met by the government. They were speaking in Bathinda district's Balloh village, the native village of a farmer who died recently during clashes with the Haryana security personnel in Khanauri. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march by the farmers to press the government to accept their demands, which includes that the Centre should give a legal guarantee of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the crops. Both forums decided that while the farmers from Punjab and Haryana will continue to support the ongoing agitation at Shambhu and Khanauri border points, the farmers and farm labourers from other states should reach Delhi on March 6 for a protest in the national capital in support of the farmers' demands. "The farmers from far away states, who cannot reach on tractor trolleys, should head to Delhi by trains and by other means of transport. It will also become clear whether the government allows those farmers to enter those farmers who go without tractor trolleys," Sarwan Pandher said addressing the gathering at Balloh. "At Shambhu and Khanauri, the agitation will continue like before and will be further intensified. Our agitation will continue till the demands are met," he added. Sarwan Pandher said the two forums to spread this agitation countrywide call upon the farmers and labourers across the country that the 'rail roko' protest will be held in the country from 12 pm to 4 pm on March 10 to put pressure on the government to meet the farmers' demands. Sarwan Pandher said that all Punjab panchayats should pass a resolution in support of the farmers' demands and from every village a tractor trolley reaches the protest border points. He said that the Centre had never before used drones in the farmers agitation as the Haryana Police used recently. The Haryana authorities have barricaded Shambhu and Khanauri, and made it like the Punjab- Haryana international border, he said. New Delhi,Mar 03 A fact-finding team, comprising a former judge, a bureaucrat and members of civil society on Sunday visited some of the villages in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali and met several people who have accused local former TMC leaders, including Sheikh Shahjahan, of sexual atrocities and land grab. After the meeting, a member of the team, Raj Pal Singh, said that as many as 11 people were still threatening the locals despite the arrest of Shahjahan in connection with the case. "We have a list of 11 other people who are constantly threatening women despite the arrest of some. I have their details with me,' Singh said while speaking to the media. Another member of the team, Justice L Narasimha Reddy, alleged that the local administration was protecting Shahjahan from arrest. "Each passing day, more facts are coming out. After HC intervention, Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested. He was walking like a hero even after his arrest. It shows he was protected by the state and its police," Justice Reddy said. He further added that a report of their findings will be submitted to President Droupadi Murmu, Union Home Ministry and state Governor CV Ananda Bose. "We have already submitted an interim report to the Governor of West Bengal. We will submit our final report to the President of India, (Union) Home Ministry. And to the Chief Minister of West Bengal if she agrees to accept our report," he added. After the visit of the fact-finding team, India Today TV spoke to a few women who had presented themselves and handed their complaint letters related to land grabs and other incidents. The women also demanded police protection for themselves and strict punishment for Shahjahan and the other accused in the case. "I came here with this complaint-letter about a land grab. We want protection. As they (fact-finding team) have come from Delhi. Till now, I was in fear of Shah Jahan. Now that he has been arrested, I think I could register my complaint, which may help me to get back my land," a woman said while speaking to India Today. "We want Shahjahan to get a higher punishment or else, he will resume his atrocities on us once he is free from jail. We are still in fear as some are threatening us," another woman said while speaking to India Today TV.