Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers observe one-day hunger strike

Jalandhar, January 30Farmers, under the banner of Pendu Mazdoor Union and Kirti Kisan Union, on Saturday went on a day-long hunger strike on the call of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM). Calling the attack on farmers at the Singhu border on Friday, a government-sponsored violence, farmers held the strike outside the District Administrative Complex (DAC).While condemning the attack, allegedly led by the ruling political party, farmers demanded immediate repeal of the three contentious farm laws. Over 100 farmers, including some students, observed the strike from 12 pm to 3.30 pm. Moreover, on the occassion of the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, farmers also observed Sadbhavna Diwas.Demands were made for the arrest of those responsible for the Delhi violence, including the enactment of a law to guarantee minimum support price and the cancellation of false notices issued against peasant leaders.Mangaljit Singh, a member of the Punjab Students’ Union, said the Union Government with the connivance of government agencies and the police, was turning the peaceful agitation of the farmers violent. “Owing to the suspension of internet at the Delhi-Hayana borders, rumours and false information is being spread across the country to malign the farmers’ protest,” he said.Rattan Singh, president of the Kirti Kisan Union, said, “Even as the conspiracies of the government successfully blemished our two-month long peaceful agitation, we will not give up until the laws are withdrawn. It upset us that our historic tractor march was stained with communal colour, but we will continue to agitate peacefully and expose the government. He criticised stone-pelting on farmers in the presence of police.Tarsem Peter, state president, Rural Workers’ Union Punjab; Kashmir Singh Ghughsor, Mangaljit Pandori, state leader of Punjab Students’ Union Jasvir Kaur and others were present in the protest.

The Tribune

2021-01-31