Farmers Movement Archive

Women flay arrest of activists Nodeep Kaur and Disha Ravi during agitation

Jalandhar, February 15Women in Mehatpur on Monday held a protest against the three farm laws and against the arrests of activists during the farmers’ protests.Women protesters from Mehtapur held a protest march across the town and burnt an effigy of PM Narendra Modi at the Mehatpur bus stand. They questioned the arrest of farmers and activists and said the Central Government was crushing every voice, which was being raised against the policies of the government. Women leaders said first an FIR was lodged after environment activist Greta Thunberg raised a voice in favour of farmers, then activist Nodeep Kaur was not released despite widespread condemnation and now, climate change activist Disha Ravi was also arrested. They said this was being done to muzzle the voices of ordinary people, who were siding with farmers.They said those speaking openly against the government’s policies were either labelled Khalistani or Maoist and now the voices from abroad in favour of farmers’ struggle were being termed conspiratorial. They said under the garb of these cases, intellectuals, writers, social activists, journalists, different leaders, were being targeted. They said similar targeting has been witnessed in the Bhima Koregaon, JNU student attack and Shaheen Bagh protests against the CAA. Leaders demanded that those arrested in the course of various protests be promptly released. Pendu Mazdoor Union, Kirti Kisan Union and Istri Jagriti Manch leaders Baljit Kaur, Bakhsho Rani, Surjit Kaur, Paramjit Kaur, Kuldeep Kaur and Anita Sandhu among others also spoke on the occasion.Farmers to protest at Nawanshahr railway station on February 18 Jalandhar: Ground-level meetings are taking place in Nawanshahr, wherein youngsters from various villages are being asked to join and add strength to the farmers’ protest in the coming days. Members of the Kirti Kisan Union on Sunday held a meeting, where it was decided that the union members would sit at the Nawanshahr railway station from 12 noon to 4 pm in protest against the three farm laws on February 18. In the meeting where at least 35 members were present, it was decided that an appeal would be made to people to go to the protest site under the leadership and guidance of farmer unions and not get distracted by any outsider. Ground-level strategies are being made daily and mobilisation being planned. Kirti Kisan Union members have been holding several activities to garner support and strengthen the movement. They recently took 300 farmers on their tractor trailers towards New Delhi from Nawanshahr on January 23 to take part in the January 26 march. Several rehearsals had also been conducted ahead of the big movement. Tractor-trailer marches were organised by the women wing and youth wing of the Kirti Kisan Union. TNS

The Tribune

2021-02-16