Farmers launch dharna outside Punjab Raj Bhawan
Chandigarh, March 4: Farmers on Friday launched a dharna outside the Punjab Raj Bhawan after they were stopped by the Chandigarh Police from handing over a memorandum of demands to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit. The farmers accused the Punjab Governor of discrimination. As per information, the Governor has allowed a five-member delegation of farmers to meet him, but the protesters are adamant that all 26 farmer leaders be allowed. Also read | Punjab: SC orders to transfer Sumedh Saini case to another HC judge The main demands of the farmers included the withdrawal of cases registered during the farmers' movement against the three farm laws and justice for the victims of the Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The protesters are demanding that cases against farmers who were booked during their agitation against the three farm laws be withdrawn and justice be provided to the victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Terming the heart-wrenching incident of brutal killing of farmers protesting in Lakhimpur Kheri district as a blot on the democracy of the country, farmers are demanding exemplary punishment for the accused, including Ashish Mishra, son of UP minister Ajay Mishra. Also read | Russia-Ukraine War Day 9 Live Updates: Russian troops seize Europe's biggest nuclear plant in Ukraine Ashish Mishra was recently granted bail by the Allahabad High Court in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. Four farmers and a journalist died when an SUV owned by Ajay Mishra ran over farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3. The incident had triggered nationwide protests.