Farmers Movement Archive

Rain fails to dampen spirits of farmers

Despite parts of the Capital receiving light rain on Saturday morning, the weather failed to dampen spirits of farmers protesting at the Singhu border. With several of them moving into their trolleys to avoid the drizzles, the farmers, who have been at the border for nearly 40 days now, explained that with several layers of plastic over their trucks to prevent seepage, they had come prepared for adverse weather conditions. Manjeet Singh, a farmer from Patiala said, “I have been at the border since the first day and have not even gone home in the past month. Our trolleys are covered with three layers of plastic to prevent any kind of seepage. Even if there’s any kind of extra-aid we require, the several organisations out here are there to provide us with that. We are here for a reason and the hope that something substantial will happen is always there.” For the people? “Usually a government is meant to be “for the people” but clearly under the current circumstances it’s difficult to gauge who’s government it actually is,” Mr. Singh rued. Satsem Singh, a farmer from Punjab’s Kapurthala district said, “We have all kinds of reinforcements, measures and resources in place. The trolleys are safe and covered with layers of plastic among other things. The Prime Minister can extend this for as long as he wants to. We are fully prepared. Sukhjeet Singh, another farmer who owns around 25 acres of land in Patiala added, “Rain has been forecast for the next couple of days. While we are managing quite well, at times issues like drying clothes, increasing mosquitoes and clothes getting soiled due to the mud prop up. But we are quite certain of not moving from here. What is even left to go back to if the laws are not repealed?” For a cause The environment at the protest site is improving with each passing day, Mr. Singh explained while stating that the people from diverse backgrounds had come together for the cause. “The Prime Minister is unable to gauge the environment out here and the fact that people from across castes, creed and religions had come together for the cause,” said Mr. Singh. Following announcements of a tractor parade on Republic Day, protesting farmers said that they were ready to call an increased number of people from their respective villages. Baldev Singh, a 60-year-old farmer from Punjab’s Tarn Taran district said, “Each day there are more and more people joining this peaceful agitation. We are ready to call even more number of people to join. Never before has one seen such an agitation of this scale. It is historic as people from across States have joined in. Once this is successful, the government won’t dare to take any measures which is against the welfare of people. No matter how long it takes, we are bound to win.” The trolleys are safe and covered with layers of plastic among other things. The PM can extend this for as long as he wants to Satsem Singh Farmer from Punjab’s Kapurthala

The Hindu

2021-01-03

NEW DELHI