Haryana home minister Anil Vij announced to drop all the cases against farmers except the 'heinous' crimes, resulting in cancelation of the blockade of Delhi-Ambala Highway by the farmer bodies. This comes after a delegation of farmer unions met the latter in Ambala Cantonment on Wednesday.
The delegation of the farmer leaders of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni faction) included union’s president Gurnam Singh Charuni, Ambala unit president Malkit Singh, and spokesperson Rakesh Bains, who visited Vij at his home and brought up the demand to drop the criminal charges filed against farmers during the 2020–21 agitation against the three farm regulations that have been overturned post nationwide protests earlier.
According to Charuni, the minister told them that all of the cases that had been filed during the agitation had been dismissed.
"Every case has been withdrawn, with the exception of a few. Additionally, he (Vij) has promised that government workers who support the movement on an individual basis won't face repercussions. We have thus decided to cancel our roadblock on Thursday," he stated.
Further Vij told that a total of 294 cases had been filed against farmers, 163 of which had previously been dropped. "My department is working to remove all cases against the farmers, with the exception of grave offences like murder, rape, or death by running over a car", the minister told the media after the meeting.
However, as per Charuni, the rally at the Mohra grain market to commemorate the birth anniversary of late farmer leader and social reformer Sir Chhotu Ram and to honour two years of the agitation will go place as scheduled on Thursday.
He added that they would also provide officials with a paper outlining their unmet demands, such as MSP, shamlat deh land, and GM mustard seeds.
"Owing to the rally, an advice has been issued for commuters to avoid NH-44 and take other routes to prevent congestion," Ambala Superintendent of Police (SP) Jashandeep Singh Randhawa said during a press release on Wednesday.
Though, the highway will still be accessible, he added.
Meanwhile, in Haryana's neighboring state Punjab, the dharna at six highways entered its eighth day, while Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur), entered the sixth day of his fast-to-death to support numerous demands of farmers.
Farmers in the border state are calling for increased compensation for land acquired for national highway projects, compensation for crop damage caused by bad weather and pest infestation, and the lifting of harsh penalties imposed for burning stubble. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Apolitical) is in charge of organising these dharnas.
