Tarn Taran: Farmer leaders on Sunday said their fight to restart the Cooperative Sugar Mill at Sheron would continue and urged the district administration to arrange an early meeting with the Chief Minister, as earlier promised. They made the statement after being released from jail, The Tribune reported.
Seventeen farmer leaders, who had been sent to Central Jail, Goindwal Sahib, till March 3, were released unconditionally following pressure from the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). Though they were initially remanded for a longer period, they walked out of jail two days after their arrest.
A large number of farmers gathered outside Central Jail, Goindwal Sahib, to welcome the released leaders. Raising slogans and garlanding them with siropas and flowers, they warned the state government that they would continue to oppose any move to transfer the land of the Cooperative Sugar Mill at Sheron to other departments.
Earlier, a meeting was held at the residence of Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar on Friday, where farmer representatives demanded the unconditional release of those arrested and the immediate reopening of the Sheron sugar mill. The minister directed the district administration to withdraw the case.
Those released included Gurpreet Singh Gandiwind, Nachhattar Singh Pannu, Daljit Singh Dialpura, Rattan Singh Dhand, Jassa Singh Kadgill and Gurdial Singh Warnala. They were received by several farmer and labour leaders, including Mahabir Singh Gill, Jatinder Singh Chhina, Sahib Singh Dal, Pargat Singh Jamarai, Puran Singh Marimegha, Ajaib Singh Dinpur and Tara Singh Khehra. Employee leaders Gurbhej Singh Dhillon, Kulwinder Singh Bagrian and Mangal Singh Nagoke were also present on the occasion.
