Land acquisition: Haryana farmers threaten to block toll

GURUGRAM: Disgruntled over demands related to acquisition of 1,810 acres in Kasan, Sehrawan, and Kukdola villages by the state government, a group of farmers in Manesar on Wednesday held a meeting to chalk out plans for reviving the stir. Farmers have threatened to block the Manesar toll plaza on December 19.
As many as 200 farmers on Wednesday gathered outside the Manesar tehsil office to decide upon their action plans to infuse fresh energy into their ongoing protest. The meeting was called after the state government allegedly failed to take definite actions on the demands of the farmers. One of the major demands is ‘adequate compensation’ or handing over the land back to the farmers.
“For more than two months, we have patiently waited for the government’s response. The chief minister keeps claiming our demands will be met but no definite actions have been taken yet. Last month, we submitted a memorandum. We were told that we would get some positive response by the first week of December. But that didn’t happen. So, we gathered here to decide our next course of action,” said Satyadev Kaushik, a farmer and president of Zameen Bachao Welfare Samiti.
Farmers have given a fresh ultimatum.
“If the government fails to accede to our demands before December 19, we will organise a mahapanchayat and block the Manesar toll plaza. This is the only way the government will rise from its slumber and listen to us,” he added.