Protesters block highway, rail route over Latifpura demands

Nearly 50 houses were razed in Latifpura last month. Residents, including around 100 children, have been staying at the site since. They have been sitting on the debris of their razed houses braving the winter chill.

Beside Latifpura residents, several activists of Pendu Mazdoor Union, leaders of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, Bharati Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan Jalandhar, Tarkasheel Society Punjab, Jamhuri Adhikar Sabha, Punjab People’s Cultural Forum, Dal Khaksa and other Sikh Organisations, took part.

Addressing the gathering on their  occasion, leaders said that road and railway traffic was blocked to make the government aware of the issues in Latifpura. They said that to benefit some big people the houses of the poor were demolished under a conspiracy and the Punjab government is silent on it.

They said that the government should not live under any false impression that they will sit and tolerate injustice to the poor.

Kashmir Singh Ghugshore, leader of Pendu Mazdoor union, said, “Where there is coercion, there is also resistance and the struggle will continue till the final victory. Punjab’s AAP government, which is B team of BJP, did not even think that the displaced families from Pakistan had settled here since 1947. The poor people are sitting on the debris in winter but the government could not even arrange food, water and washrooms for them. People are falling sick but no medical facility has been arranged by the government.”

Meanwhile, state president of Kirti Kisan Union, Nirbhai Singh Dhudike announced their support to the Latifpura morcha on behalf of the SKM. Dal Khlasa and other Sikh groups, who also came to support them, announced to observe black day on Republic Day.