Farmers mobilize against water pollution and land acquisition; Dallewal hunger strike expands scope of protests

Bathinda: On the eighth day of fast unto death of prominent farm unionist Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Punjab-Haryana’s Khanauri border, the scope of his protest has widened to include water pollution, unfair compensation and late appointments, while his union prepares for a December 6-foot march to Delhi.
Dallewal, addressing the protesters, promised to continue the struggle until their demands were met. He condemned the police crackdown on protesters in Ludhiana who were opposing the discharge of polluted water into the Buddha Nullah, while expressing solidarity with assistant professors and librarians awaiting their appointment. Three candidates are now fasting outside the Sangrur residence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Farmers Forum Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) criticized the manner in which the Greater Noida Police used force to evict farmers from the protest sites despite prior agreements with the Uttar Pradesh authorities.
The SKM said cracking down on protests would not address the grievances of farmers who lost their land and livelihoods due to “insufficient compensation and aggressive land acquisition policies”. Farm unionist Sarvan Singh Pandher said he spoke to the Ambala Superintendent of Police on Monday evening seeking permission to hold the Delhi march and was now awaiting a response. An online page has become active for interested participants.
Farmers in the region have been fighting for their land rights for 18 years, enduring police brutality that claimed the lives of six comrades between 2008 and 2012. As subsequent policies undermine the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 (called RFCTLARR), designed to ensure fair compensation and rehabilitation, farmers are left without adequate restitution.

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