Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers mark 100 days of protest

After completing 100-days “not out century” of protest at the Ghazipur border, the farmers said they were ready for a “double century” (200 days) if the government continues to ignore their demand for a repeal of the farm laws. “Many news channels are regularly reporting thin crowds at borders. I would like to clarify that the crowds may be thin, but the spirit of the protesters is high. Many protesters have gone back for some household work and to take care of farms, but that doesn’t mean they are not with us. Thousands of protesters are on standby in western U.P. and Haryana,” said Gopal Jaat, a farmer. On International Women’s day, the protest will be led by women at all the borders on Monday. Women protesters will take charge of the stage and the speakers, too, will be women. A march has been called by women at all protest sites. “The protest on Women’s Day will be led by women protesters who are at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur border for the past 100 days, along with the men. Women have contributed equally in the fight against the farm laws. We are taking care of everything from langars to cleaning at the protest sites. This fight is for the future of farmers and the survival of their upcoming generations,” said Jaspinder Singh. Ms. Singh added that women contribute equally to the farming community, but they don’t get recognised. Protesters said a large meeting has been called at the Ghazipur border on Monday to discuss the strategy for the future of the protest. People from various districts of western Uttar Pradesh will attend the meeting to be addressed by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait. Meanwhile, protesting farm union leaders have urged the people of Haryana to lobby their representatives in the State Assembly to support the no-confidence motion against the BJP-JJP government on March 10. The people should threaten to “teach a lesson” to those MLAs who supported the government, they said. In a public appeal to Haryana citizens, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) accused the State government of supporting the Centre against the farmers on the issue of the three contentious farm laws, and attempting to suppress the movement. “Legislators belonging to the JJP and independents will be specially approached and asked to vote for the motion against the government. People would never forgive them if they do not stand up at this critical moment when the livelihood of the people was at stake,” said All India Kisan Sabha Haryana vice-president Inderjit Singh. (With inputs from Priscilla Jebaraj)

The Hindu

2021-03-08

NEW DELHI