ROHRU/JUBBAL:
Eviction notices, crop failures, and bureaucratic high-handedness — Himachal's small farmers and apple growers say they’ve had enough.
On the joint call of Himachal Kisan Sabha and Seb Utpadak Sangh (Apple Growers Association), protests erupted across the state, with a massive dharna and rally organized in Rohru today.
Hundreds of distressed farmers — including women, elderly, and youth — marched through the Rohru town, raising slogans against the state government.
They gathered outside the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office, submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister, demanding an immediate halt to ongoing evictions and house lockouts.
Addressing the gathering, Sanjay Chauhan and Raman Tharta, members of the Seb Utpadak Sangh Rajya Samiti, lashed out at the government, accusing it of hiding behind High Court orders while targeting the poor.
“Khet chhin rahe ho, ghar pe tala maar rahe ho — yeh kisani pe zabardasti ka bulldozer hai,” said Chauhan.
He alleged that the state government has failed to present the farmers’ side effectively in court and warned that if these evictions don’t stop, the agitation will intensify.
“Jubbal-Rohru ke seb ka ek-ek daana aapki economy ko khada karta hai, aur aap unhi logon ko sadak pe la rahe ho,” he said.
The protesting organizations, including the Seb Utpadak Sangh Jubbal Unit, placed the following demands:
Immediate stay on evictions and house lockouts.
Strict implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 across Himachal.
Action against officers violating FRA and displacing forest dwellers.
Regularization of up to 5 bigha land held by poor and small farmers.
Allocation of 2 biswa land in towns and 3 biswa in villages for housing the landless.
Relief and land to those affected by recent natural disasters.
“This isn’t just a legal matter. It’s a battle for existence,” said Raman Tharta, adding that the Seb Utpadak Sangh will not sit silently as the homes and lands of farmers are destroyed under the garb of court orders.
The farmers warned of intensified protests across apple belts if bulldozers are not stopped and justice not delivered.
#SaveHimachalFarmers #ImplementFRA2006 #StopEvictionsNow #JusticeForAppleGrowers
