Himachal Erupts: Farmers and Apple Growers Protest Against Evictions, Demand Forest Rights
SHIMLA: Protests rocked every subdivision of Himachal Pradesh on Monday as farmers and apple growers took to the streets against the sealing of homes, evictions, and the government's failure to implement the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
Rakesh Singha led protest in Chopal from Bus stand to SDM office with protesters shouting slogans against evictions and Tala Bandi demand five bighas for every farmers under Forest Rights Act.
The agitation was led by the Himachal Kisan Sabha and Himachal Apple Growers Association leaders Rakesh Singha, Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, Sanjay Chauhan in Shimla district, Kushal Bhardwaj and Bhopinder Singh in Mandi and Onkar Shad in Kullu district.
In Kotkhai Sanjay Chauhan led the protest March through Kotkhai bazaar to SDM office and submitted memorandum to the SDM.
Outside the DC office in Shimla, protesters raised slogans demanding immediate action. Dr. Kuldeep Singh Tanwar, state president of Himachal Kisan Sabha, and Rakesh Singha, convenor of the Apple Growers Association, said the government must regularize occupations on forest land used for livelihood under the Forest Rights Act.
#ForestRights #SaveFarmers #HimachalProtests
Dharamshala: Rally Against Sealing of Houses
In Dharamshala, around 100 farmers marched from the local police station to the DC office. District vice-president Pratap Singh slammed the government’s move to evict poor farmers and seal their homes. Protesters demanded the immediate rollback of eviction drives.
#DharamshalaProtest #FarmersRights
Rampur Bushahr: Memorandum Submitted to SDM
In Rampur, farmers and apple growers rallied towards the SDM office and submitted a list of demands.
Addressing the gathering, District Kisan Sabha president Prem Chauhan, apple association vice-president Ranjit Thakur, Dayal Bhatanu, Harish, and Milap Negi accused the government of targeting small landholders and denying them the right to shelter.
#RampurBushahr #LandRights #StopEvictions
Kullu: Outrage Over Fresh Eviction Drive
In Kullu, farmers assembled outside the DC office under Rajesh Thakur’s leadership. Thakur lashed out at the forest department's fresh moves to demolish settlements built by the poor for survival.
He said earlier eviction orders were withdrawn after public protests, but now officials were back at it. Protesters also criticized the government's failure to honor the Forest Rights Act despite repeated promises.
#KulluProtests #StandWithFarmers #ImplementForestRights
The farmers warned that the fight would intensify if the government didn’t immediately halt evictions and implement forest rights in letter and spirit.
#HimachalUnites #PeopleVsSystem
