MOHALI: Anticipating defence minister Rajnath Singh’s visit, thousands of farmers entered Chandigarh University in Gharuan and gheraoed the helipad. They said they would not let any BJP leader step on Punjab’s land.
The university authorities gave a free passage to the protesting farmers, but immediately announced cancelling of classes and students were sent home.
Chandigarh University chancellor Satnam Singh Sandhu said, “Rajnath Singh’s visit was cancelled and farmer were informed about it, but they still invaded the premises. We are also farmers, so we hosted them on the premises. All was peaceful.”
Farmers started collecting outside the university gate early in the morning and by 11am they gathered for a dharna outside the gate before entering the premises. As the security guards opened the gates, a sea of farmers on tractors, trolleys and even on wheelchairs rushed towards the helipad where they believed Rajnath Singh’s helicopter would land.
Channan Singh, Satnam Singh, Charan Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Bachan Kaur and many others raised slogans against the BJP, Rajnath Singh and Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Channan Singh said, “We will not allow any BJP leader or supporter to step on Punjab’s land. We will not let Rajnath’s helicopter land and force it to retreat in the air. The BJP has ruined our lives and future of our children by passing black farm laws.”
While raising the slogans, farmers also demanded death penalty for Lakhimpur incident accused and alleged that the BJP was attempting to discourage them by causing accidents at protest site at Delhi borders.
