Farmers Movement Archive

Massive tractor march by farmers in Hoshiarpur

Hoshiarpur, January 7The ‘Sanyukt Kisan Morcha’ on Thursday held a massive tractor rally seeking withdrawal of agri laws framed by the Union Government to express solidarity with farmers struggling day and night on the Delhi borders in severe cold and rain.The tractor march, that was several kilometres long, involving hundreds of tractors, started from Singriwala bypass and passed through various markets and roads of the city and ended at Purhiran bypass. Strict security arrangements were in place during the march. The security was closely watched and supervised by SP (H) Raminder Singh.When the march reached Kamalpur Chowk, near the local bus stand, the police tried persuading them not to take the tractor march towards Ghanta Ghar, as it is a narrow and crowded road, but farmers were adamant and the police had to let them go. On being asked about the motive behind this march, protesters said it was held to express solidarity with farmers protesting at the Delhi borders. They said the morcha had announced a tractor march on the borders of Delhi and the farmers were holding tractor marches in every city, town and village to wake the government from its slumber. They said on the one hand the Union Government was claiming to be farmer friendly, but on the other, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not seem bothered about the daily deaths of farmers in the struggle. They said this tractor march was just a trailer, adding that if the Central Government did not repeal these agriculture laws before January 26, then a large number of farmers from all over Punjab and other states would join the Rajpath parade with tractors, exposing the government and the anti-people policies of the BJP government and its anti-farmer face all over the world. They said by enacting these black laws, the BJP government at the Centre proved that these were anti-farmers, which would only benefit the corporate houses.All set, labourers to leave for Singhu, Tikri on Jan 10Jalandhar: A tractor-trailer caravan of landless, resource-less labour families will head towards the Singhu and Tikri borders to participate in the ongoing farmers’ agitation on January 10. Under the aegis of Dehati Mazdoor Sabha, these labourers will extend support to the historic agitation to express solidarity with farmers demanding withdrawal of three farm laws.Information regarding this was provided by state president Darshan Singh Nahar, general secretary Hurnam Singh Daud, vice-secretary Mahipal, senior vice-president Chaman Lal Darajke, joint secretary Jagjit Singh Jasseana, Paramjit Singh Randhawa and Baldev Singh Nurpuri.Leaders said the grassroot level workers of the sabha were doing hectic preparations throughout the state to ensure the tractor march was a huge success and labourers who have also been at the receiving end of the government’s policies are giving an overwhelming response to the march.They said labourers were looking forward to joining the agitation and were cautious about the narrative being spread regarding the farm laws. They said farmers’ agitation had highlighted the strength of the farmers-labourer unity and also the opportunities which can be born out of such a huge protest. They said the protests had also uncovered the faces of the corporates, which have been looting resources which actually belong to people.While they appealed to farmers to be a part of the march in huge numbers, they also said the Dehati Mazdoor Sabha would implement in its entirety the struggle programme of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha leading the farm agitations.400 farmers cover 30 km on tractors Jalandhar: Ahead of the Republic Day tractor march in Delhi, farmers organised a tractor rally on Thursday to urge villagers to participate in the march. As many as 400 farmers and youth under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Commitee gathered at Bhogpur grain market. They covered a distance of around 30 km and the rally concluded at Kishangarh. Langar stalls were set up to keep farmers fuelled up. Apart from tractors, farmers also arrived on motorcycles, cars and bicycles. Gurpreet Singh Atwal, district vice-president, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee said, “Farmers will leave for Delhi on January 24 and will join the agitators at Singhu border. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre has selected the tableau of Punjab for the Republic Day parade, we will show them the entire Punjab there. On the occassion of Lohri, a copy of the agricultural laws will be cirulated in villages to set them on fire.” Farm leaders also urged the Central Government to revoke the ‘black laws’, else they would intensify their protest with each passing day. TNS

The Tribune

2021-01-08