Farmers Movement Archive

Over 1 lakh expected at Ghazipur border on March 23, say farmers

A large number of protesters from Western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Punjab on Sunday started gathering at the Ghazipur border ahead of the martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh on March 23. The protesters came to the spot on vehicles that had the banners of martyrs — Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev — installed on them. The rally passed through various areas of both Uttarakhand and Punjab. The protesters were seen requesting more and more people to join them in their agitation against the new farm laws. Lakhveer Singh, who has come to the border from Rampur in U.P., said there will be a gathering of around one lakh protesters on March 23. “This government is functioning like East India Company and only benefitting corporate houses. Shaheed Bhagat Singh is an inspiration for every youth and teaches how to raise voice against a dumb and deaf government,” he said. Another protester Gurmeet Chaudhary said: “After the incident on January 26, many people thought that the farmers’ movement will fizzle out and we will be termed anti-India but we took control of the situation and instructed the youth not to fall into the trap of the government. We will keep fighting till our demands are met.” Women start foot march The protesters said that to make a huge impact on the day, a similar kind of mobilisation have been planned at the Tikri and Singhu borders. Kulwinder Kaur, a protester said: “A large group of women has started padyatra [foot march] from various cities of Punjab. Their march will culminate at Ghazipur, Tikri and Singhu borders. On March 23, we will also honour the family members of the farmers, who sacrificed their lives for the movement.” The protesters asked more youth to join them. On Tikait’s absence After farmers’ leader Rakesh Tikait, who was leading the movement at Ghazipur protest site, went to poll-bound States for campaigning, the crowd was visibly thin. The protesters leading the movement in the absence of Mr. Tikait cited hot weather and harvesting season as reasons for thin crowd.

The Hindu

2021-03-22

NEW DELHI