Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab connect bonds Sikhs in city with anti-farm law stir

Nagpur: City’s Sikh community, having its roots in Punjab and their kin’s close connection to agriculture, had turned up in large numbers during the anti-farm law demonstrations at Automotive Square on Kamptee Road during the Bharat bandh on Tuesday. At one corner of the protest site, members representing three generations of the community were present to lend their voice to the agitation. Harsimran Kaur, a student of Std XII, was present along with her great-grandmother 80-year-old Malkit Kaur and other family members. Harsimran said the newly enacted laws should be repealed or else there would be grave consequences. “The laws are anti-people. As much as it would affect the farmers, it would also hurt the commoners to almost the same extent. The farmers are our ‘annadata’ (giver of food) and we are leading them to disaster,” she said. Her version was supported by her great-grandma, who made it a point to remain present at the demonstration. Jasleen Kaur, also a student of Std XII, was vociferously raising slogans at Automotive Square against the farm laws enacted by the Centre. Though now based in the city, Jasleen expressed pride in having her roots in Punjab and more prominently the farming background of her family which propelled her to take up the cause. Jasleen, who also held placards denouncing the farm laws, said her ancestors had migrated from Punjab to start some business, but their connection to the native land still bridges a close bond between her and kin who stayed there. “My kin back in Punjab, who are suffering due to the new farm laws, are the reason for me stepping out. Due to Covid restrictions, my relatives in Punjab are not being able to do justice to farming,” she said. “If the farm laws are not repealed, there would be no future for the farmers and with them, the country’s fate too would be doomed,” she added. Transporter Malkit Singh Bal, whose family owned farmland at Kapurthala, said the new laws would lead to closure of government-run markets which earlier purchased farm produce. “The central government had ruined Bihar’s farmers in 2016 and left them in such a pitiable condition that they had migrated to Punjab to work as labourers to sustain,” he said. “My farmer friends from Punjab are fighting it out in the open braving Delhi’s cold and hardships. I cannot sit at home,” he said.

The Times of India

2020-12-09

Nagpur