Shimla, Jan. 19 -- Farmers and orchardists from across Himachal Pradesh on Monday staged a massive protest and gherao outside the state Secretariat, demanding immediate implementation of the Supreme Court's directions to frame a clear policy for regularisation.

They also demanded protection of farmers' land and urged the state government to raise the issue of apple and other agricultural produce being kept out of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the Union government.

The protest was jointly organised by the Himachal Pradesh Kisan Sabha, the Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers' Association and several other farmers' and fruit growers' organisations. A large number of farmers and orchardists from different districts participated in the demons...