NAWANSHAHR:Based on 17 different organizations of farmers, farm workers and industrial labourers, hundreds of members of "Nijikarn Virodhi Talmeil Committee" here on Thursday gheraoed the office of the DC for nearly two hours in support of their demands. No employee was allowed to enter or leave the office during this period.

The protesters were demanding scrapping of Electricity Act-2003, removal of toll plazas across various highways in the state, ending the policy of commercialization and privatization of education and making available safe potable water across the state free of cost.

IFTU state vice president Kulwinder Singh Wurraich said the successive governments were withdrawing various concessions to the poor on the directions of international monetary and trade organizations like World Bank, IMF and WTO thereby making it difficult for the poor to make both ends meet.

Harpal Singh Jagatpur of Dehati Mazdoor Union accused the state government of promoting private sector in the field of education thereby making it out of bounds for the poor. Harmesh Singh Dhesi of Kirti Kisan Kisan Union main tainted that privatization of power sector would further increase the hardships of farmers.

Hari Ram Rasoolpuri and Kamaljit Sanawa of Pendu Mazdoor Union too addressed the protesters who earlier staged a protest march in the main bazaars of the town. A statewide bandh call for February 19 was also given at the gathering.