Himachal farmers, apple growers protest, seek land regularisation
Farmers and apple growers from across Himachal Pradesh converged on Shimla, marched to the Himachal Pradesh Assembly to protest against ongoing evictions and demand land regularization.
The demonstration, organized by the Himachal Kisan Sabha and Apple Producers Association, saw a massive turnout, with participants carrying banners and placards highlighting their grievances. They held a rally at Ambedkar Chowk, Shimla after a procession from Panchayat Bhawan.
The farmers’ demands included a stay on all evictions until a larger bench is constituted by the Supreme Court to address the complexities of land ownership and forest classifications. They also demanded the rejection of the 1952 notification classifying all wastelands as forests, the provision of land to landless farmers and those affected by natural calamities, and the regularization of nautod land. Further demands included fair compensation for acquired land, resolution of pending land ownership cases, and the provision of livelihood support for roadside vendors.
Former MLA Rakesh Singha, condemned the evictions as illegal, citing Supreme Court rulings that deemed such actions without proper orders and due process as a violation of natural justice. He highlighted the plight of residents whose houses, even those built on Nautod land, were being sealed without proper demarcation.
Kisan Sabha State President Dr Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, criticized the government’s land acquisition practices for development projects, alleging non-compliance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
The rally concluded with a call for further protests at the sub-division, block, and tehsil levels on April 28, 2025.
Govt to protect farmers from displacement at any cost: CM
Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu went to protest site and addressed the rally. He assured the protesters to consider their demands sympathetically. Former MLA Rakesh Singha submitted a memorandum to the CM on behalf of Kisan Sabha.
Sukhu said that ensuring the welfare of farmers and orchardists was the priority of the present state government and would not be displaced under any circumstance.
