CITIZENS FOR DEMOCRACY
PRESS RELEASE
28th November,2020
CITIZENS FOR DEMOCRACY URGE UPON THE GOVERNMENTS:
“STOP REPRESSEION ON FARMERS, WITHDRAW CRIMINAL CASES FILED AGAINST THEM, RELEASE ALL THOSE ARRESTED AND ACCEPT THEIR DEMANDS”.
Citizens For Democracy(CFD) strongly decry the brutal reaction of the BJP governments, whether at the Centre or of the states of Haryana and UP in dealing with the peaceful agitation of the farmers. The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, the alliance of various farmers organizations, had long back declared their intention of organizing their march ‘Delhi Chalo’ to lodge their protest. The Central government did not take any concrete step to settle the issues involved i.e. the three controversial farm laws. The farmers began their march from various parts of the country on 26th November,2020. The response of the Centre and Haryana Government was of repression. The BJP government of Haryana sealed the borders, put up barricades, dug the roads in order to prevent the farmers from proceeding to Delhi. But the farmers were not deterred. They marched through breaking barricades while facing water cannons and tear gas. Now large number of them have staged their dharna at Singhu and Tikri Borders. They claim that they are well equipped with ration for at least six months. A team of activists including PUCL members visited the Singhu border and found the protesters, around one lakh, as the most disciplined one. The government’s offer to allow them to stage their protest at Burari ground seem to be unacceptable to them.
Haryana Police has booked state Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni and several farmers on attempt to murder, rioting, causing obstruction in government duty and other charges for violations during their “Delhi Chalo” march. Large number of farmers have been arrested. Another shameful act on the part of Haryana Police is of levelling murder charge on the youth who had turned off a water cannon. No civilized government is expected to treat this way the protesters who want to exercise their constitutional right in peaceful manner.
The statement of Mr. Khattar, the Chief Minister of Haryana, alleging that there is ‘Khalistani connection’ in the farmer’s protest is the most deplorable one. Probably Mr. Khattar does not know that Punjab has always been in the forefront of struggle against unjust laws. Jalianwala Bagh episode of 1919 when hundreds of protesters had gathered to challenge the Rowlatt Act and sacrificed their lives is one such example. Another glorious chapter from Punjab is the struggle to oppose the infamous ‘emergency’ when during its 19 months (June 1975 to March 1977) the protesters – Sikhs,Hindus, Muslims, Christians would gather at Golden Temple in Amritsar every day, would march in procession raising slogans opposing ‘emergency’ laws offering their arrest till the emergency lasted. It was one of the strongest resistance during the ‘emergency’. To make such remarks as made by Mr. Khattar is the most condemnable attempt to malign the protesters who are agitating to challenge the laws which they think as totally unjust.
Citizens For Democracy urges upon the Central government to accept farmers’ demands because the same are legitimate. We also call upon the Haryana government to immediately withdraw the cases filed against the farmers and release all the arrested ones forthwith. Governments should realise that our farmers cannot be treated like criminals and terrorists.
S.R.Hiremath President
N.D.Pancholi General Secy
Anil Sinha Secretary
Manimala Ramsaran, Arun Maji and Amit Srivastav (Executive members)
Citizens For Democracy (M) 9811099532, 9006187885