BJP committee slams HP govt for not pleading case of

The committee constituted by state BJP chief Satpal Satti under the chairmanship of former state revenue minister Gulab Singh Thakur has blamed the state government for not pleading the case of encroachments on government forests effectively in the High Court.
The committee which held its second meeting here today observed that the High Court had only stopped felling of fruit trees on encroached lands but the process of eviction had not ceased and the operation to dispossess the farmers of their lands had not stopped.
The Committee observed that government did not put up the case of small and marginal farmers in the review petition in the court and besides taking possession of land, the water and electricity supply was also being disconnected.

The committee asked the government to make a firm policy, keeping in view the interests of small and marginal farmers.
Gulab Singh Thakur said that the BJP would fully back the affected farmers and if required, they will launch a statewide agitation.