Shimla, July 15 -- Facing mounting pressure from an ongoing forest land eviction drive in Kotkhai and surrounding areas, the Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers Association (HPAGA) has announced a massive protest march and gherao of the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat on July 29, calling it a struggle to defend "land, livelihood, and Himachaliyat."
An emergency general meeting of the HP Apple Growers Association was convened today at Hatkoti in Jubbal tehsil, where farmers, orchardists, and residents from Rohru, Jubbal, Nawar, Kotkhai, Chuharu, and Chopal voiced strong opposition to the felling of apple trees and forced evictions from homes being carried out under the Himachal Pradesh High Court's July 2 order.
The meeting was attended by over 25...