Farmers Movement Archive

Amid online classes, children’s zeal to protest continues

Rohtak, December 9A Class X student from Ratia (Fatehabad), Arshdeep Singh, is sitting atop a mini-truck waving a flag at the Tikri border, where thousands of farmers are protesting against the three controversial farm laws at the Tikri border for more than 10 days.He has come with his father to, what he says, “strengthen the protest”. “Come what may, we will force the Modi government to repeal the three laws,” Arshdeep says.Sitting beside him is 15-year-old Ramandeep, a native of Fatehabad. He says, “Farmers are providers of food. If anyone thinks that they can survive without farmers, they are mistaken.”Like Arshdeep and Ramandeep, hundreds of schoolchildren are participating in the protest. They raise slogans, distribute langar and chop vegetables without losing sight of their studies. They are carrying their books along with them and take out time to attend online classes.Harmandeep Singh, a 14-year-old Class IX student from Sangrur (Punjab), says, “I study for two to three hours every day and devote rest of the time in distributing langar. I have been here for the past one week.”Harshdeep Singh (13), a Class IX student from Sahuwala village in Sirsa district, has been at the Tikri border for the past four days. “My uncle and I are supporting Punjab farmers wholeheartedly. It is a fight for our rights and we will force the Centre to cancel the three black laws.”These students have only one message for the Centre: “Stop testing our patience, we will not bow down”.

The Tribune

2020-12-10