Farmers Movement Archive

Bharat Bandh a show of our unity, say farmers

NEW DELHI: Expecting support from large sections of the people across the country for the Bharat Bandh called by them, farmer leaders assured on Monday that the closure would be “peaceful” and its aim was to send a message to the government that the protest was a national movement. The strike is to be observed between 11am and 3pm on Tuesday. According to the protest leaders, shopkeepers and transport unions have expressed their support for the cause. However, emergency services will be permitted to operate freely. “A lot of people are on their way to Delhi to lend support to the farmers already present there. The idea is to make the government understand how we feel about the new agriculture Acts,” said Balbir Singh Rajewal, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader. Harishpal Singh of Ludhiana, on protest at Singhu border, said commercial establishments will shut down in solidarity with the farmers and people in the transport sector will also be taking part in the bandh. “From our side, there will be nothing different from what has happened in the past 12 days. There will be no disturbance to the lives of the common man from our end,” promised Harishpal. Punjabi singer Gurdas Maan also reached the Singhu border on Monday. Pargat Singh of Sirsa, Haryana, said thousands more are likely to arrive on the day of the Bharat Bandh. “Groups will arrive from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and they will sit in protest at whichever border is convenient for them,” Pargat said. “We don’t aim create any inconvenience or close down a new border.” At Tikri border too, the agitating farmers said the bandh would help them garnering support before another round of talks with the central government. Pradip Dhankar, state president, Akhil Haryana MSP Sangarsh Samiti, said, “The central government has been trying to divide us by saying this was a movement involving the farmers of only one state. But it isn’t. This is a national movement. It’s a show of strength, of farmer unity on Tuesday.” Detained by police while protesting at Jhajhar, Dhankar headed straight to Tikri border after his release. Raj Singh, a farmer from Haryana who has been at the protest site for the past 12 days, said, “We are not terrorists and we have not come to disturb anyone. The day the Centre repeals the three laws, we will turn back our tractors and go home.” Meanwhile at both Singhu and Tikri borders, Delhi Police has made elaborate arrangements for Tuesday. At Singhu, one entire carriageway has been barricaded with boulders and barbed wires. Only a small section of the road will be open to allow commuters to pass through on foot. At Tikri too, police have used cranes to place boulders as barricades along a 500-metre stretch. Paramilitary personnel have also been deployed in large numbers there.

The Times of India

2020-12-08

Delhi