Protests by cattle rearers in Sabarkantha intensified as they poured milk on the streets instead of giving it to the Sabar Dairy. On Monday, the protests had turned violent and the police lobbed teargas shells to disperse the stone-pelting crowd. Three policemen were injured and one protester, Ashok Chaudhary, took ill while returning from the protests and died.
Chaudhary’s family members claimed that he did not have any medical issue, but took ill due to teargas shells.
The cattle rearers are demanding a hike in the milk procurement prices.
Police complaint has been filed against more than 70 people, including former MLA of Bayad, Jasu Patel. The complaint also mentions a group of 1,000 people.
According to district superintendent of police Vijay Patel, 40 people were detained following the protest outside the Sabarkantha District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union or Sabar Dairy near Himmatnagar town.
He said that many protesters started hurling stones at the police when they were stopped at the main gate. Three policemen were injured and some police vehicles were also damaged, he added.
Dhavalsinh Zala, the Independent MLA of the Bayad constituency, also reached the spot to extend his support to the protesting cattle rearers. The cattle rearers are demanding a 20 to 25 per cent hike in the milk procurement price instead of the 9 to 10 per cent price rise declared by Sabar Dairy this year.
“Hundreds of cattle rearers, who are members of this dairy, gathered outside the dairy seeking a meaningful dialogue with the board of directors over milk procurement prices. They must get justice. I urge the board of directors to accept their demand. I condemn the police action against cattle rearers, who are the real owners of this dairy,” Zala said.
The support has been growing for the cattle rearers.
Shaktisinh Gohil, Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, posted on social media X that a life would not have been lost if the cattle rearers were taken inside the dairy for a dialogue. Describing the government’s move of suppressing the protesters by using force as “not right for democracy”, Gohil demanded that the government should immediately make efforts to address the legitimate demands of the livestock farmers.
The former Gujarat Congress president also pointed out that 15 out of the 16 directors are of the same ideology.
Isudan Gadhvi, Gujarat unit president of Aam Aadmi Party, in a post on X described the ruling BJP government in Gujarat as “arrogant” and said that it should not start feeling that the cattle rearers are helpless. Gadhvi reached Himmatnagar to listen to the woes of the protesting livestock farmers.
Also Read: UK Flagged Fuel Valve Issues Before Air India Crash; DGCA Orders Fuel Control Switch Locking Mechanism https://www.vibesofindia.com/uk-flagged-fuel-valve-issues-before-air-india-crash-dgca-orders-fuel-control-switch-locking-mechanism/
