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

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