As discontent continues to grow among villagers in the rural areas of Delhi over the UER-2 toll tax, Palam 360 Khap head Chaudhary Surendra Solanki on Sunday announced that a ‘Mahapanchayat’ will be held on September 13 to oppose the levy.
He made the announcement during a panchayat of representatives from 360 villages in Bindapur. A large number of villagers, senior citizens, and panchayat leaders participated in the meeting, where the UER-2 toll tax emerged as the central issue.
Addressing the gathering, Solanki said the fight was not just against the toll tax but also for the rights of the common people. “No one can suppress the voice of 360 villages,” he declared, assuring villagers that their concerns would be strongly conveyed to the government.
The panchayat resolved to wage a “do-or-die battle” against the toll tax. It was unanimously decided that a ‘Mahapanchayat’ would be organized at the Bakkarwala-Mundka toll plaza on September 13 at 10 am, chaired by Chaudhary Surendra Solanki. Thousands of villagers and youth are expected to participate.
Speakers at the panchayat alleged that the toll tax had been forcibly imposed on farmers and the general public. They demanded that the government heed the voice of rural communities and abolish the levy immediately.
It was also announced that the upcoming Mahapanchayat would not only serve as a protest platform but also as the venue for unveiling a broader strategy against the toll tax.
Solanki urged villagers to turn out in maximum numbers to strengthen the movement.
The villagers warned that if their demands were not addressed, the agitation could take a more aggressive form.
Representatives present at the panchayat included Chaudhary Dhara Singh Pradhan (Bawana 52), Chaudhary Naresh Pradhan (Lado Sarai 96), Chaudhary Samundar Pradhan (Karala 17), Ranbir Pradhan (Narela 17), Naresh, Surendra Dabas, Suresh Shokeen, Dharmendra Bakkarwala, Rajendra Pradhan, and Jassa Numberdar Pradhan (Tihar 28).