E-Paper
Haryana to cancel cases, farmers call off blockade of Ambala-Delhi highway
Decision after Haryana home minister Anil Vij meets delegation of Bhartiya Kisan Union, led by Gurnam Singh Charuni, in Ambala and assures it that all cases against farmers, barring heinous crimes, will be withdrawn
A day before farmers of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) faction were to block the Ambala-Delhi highway, the protest was called off after a delegation met state home minister Anil Vij in Ambala Cantonment on Wednesday.
The delegation, including union’s president Gurnam Singh Charuni, spokesperson Rakesh Bains and Ambala unit president Malkit Singh, called on Vij at his residence and took up the demand for quashing criminal cases registered against farmers during their 2020-21 agitation against the now-scrapped three farm laws.
Also read: Basmati prices escalate in Haryana as market widens
After the meeting, Charuni said the minister informed them that all cases registered during the agitation had been taken back.
“Except a handful of them, all cases have been withdrawn. Moreover, he (Vij) has assured that no action will be taken against government employees supporting the agitation in individual capacity. Therefore, our blockade on Thursday has been called off,” he said.
Vij said a total of 294 cases were registered against farmers, out of which 163 had already been withdrawn.
“My department is working to withdraw all cases against the farmers, except cases of heinous crimes such as murder, rape or killing by running over a vehicle,” the minister told reporters.
Charuni said the rally at the grain market in Mohra to observe late farmer leader and social reformer Sir Chhotu Ram’s birth anniversary and to mark two years of the agitation will be held as planned on Thursday.
He added that a memorandum on their pending demands, including MSP, shamlat deh land and GM mustard seeds, will also be submitted to officials.
Ambala superintendent of police (SP) Jashandeep Singh Randhawa said, “Due to the rally, an advisory has been issued for commuters to avoid NH-44 and take alternative routes to avoid congestion. However, the highway will remain open.”