From blood to blossom: How 3 martyrs secured apple growers’ rights

On July 22, 1990, three apple growers had died in police firing at Kotgarh, the place where apple was introduced in the state over 100 years back. The apple growers had launched a massive agitation against the then BJP government’s decision to stop the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), under which culled apple is procured by the government. It was during this agitation that the police opened fire in Kotgarh, leaving three growers — Govind Singh, Tara Chand and Hira Singh — dead.

“It’s because of the sacrifice of these three apple growers that apple continues to get support price, no matter which party is in power in the state. So, we are here to remember their contribution and pay our tributes to them,” said Horticulture Minister Jagat Negi. Besides Negi, local MLA Kuldeep Rathore, former MLA Rakesh Singha and apple growers of the area came to pay tributes to the deceased.

While paying tributes, Rathore said the tragic incident encouraged and inspired the people to raise their voice as and when required to protect their interests. “I hope the people will rise above party politics and speak in one voice to protect the apple economy as and when needed,” he said. Rathore further said that a proper covered memorial would be built for the three growers and money had been already sanctioned for the purpose.

Despite laying down their life for the common cause of the apple growers, their families faced a lot of hardships after their death. Sita Devi was just around 20-year-old when her husband died. Her son was just three-year-old at that time. “I have faced a lot of problems in raising and providing education to my son. I thought he would get a stable government job after his studies, but he’s employed as an outsourced employee,” she said in a disappointed voice.

Harish Chauhan, convener of the Sanyukt Kisan Manch, said it’s good that the people who lost their lives while fighting for the future of apple are remembered every year. “As an apple community, we can go a step further and take good care of their families. That would be a great tribute to those three young men who lost their lives while fighting for the future of apple, the livelihood of so many people in the state,” said Chauhan.

Himachal Tribune