Panchayat land row: Gandhi protests outside Parliament
Thursday, 13/08/2015
http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Tribune/
Patiala : Local MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi protested near the Mahatma Gandhi’s statue inside the Parliament today after he wasn’t allowed to speak on the eviction of farmers from shamlat land in Haraiu Khurd village in the district. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan didn’t let him speak on the issue twice.
Dr Gandhi demanded the release of 21 farmers, booked for attempt to murder for allegedly resisting eviction. “Nearly 60 families made the soil cultivable with their blood, sweat and tears in the past 65 years. How can we take away their houses and source of income. The state should withdraw all such cases at the earliest and release the peasants. Moreover, strict action should be taken against the policemen for brutally attacking the farmers,” he said.
Meanwhile, the district unit will hold a dharna outside the mini secretariat tomorrow. The party’s state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur will also join the protest. Dr Balbir Singh, in charge of the Patiala Lok Sabha constituency, alleged the villagers were being targeted for supporting Dr Gandhi in the parliamentary polls. “Twenty-three AAP workers have been booked in the case,” he added.
