Farmers Movement Archive

Khaps pitch tents at Tikri, say will stay put

TIKRI BORDER: Haryana’s khaps, which have already come out in support of farmers, are now camping at Tikri border to join the protest against the three agricultural laws. Members of khaps and a number of village panchayats have pitched tents at the protest sites. Earlier, 40 khaps of Haryana announced the launch of a campaign against the Haryana government to exert pressure on JJP and BJP leaders, especially former union minister Birender Singh. Members of Sangwan, Rathi, Satrol, Saat Baas Jadiya and Baarah khaps are among those camping at Tikri. They have deputed members to ferry goods from their native places to the border on rotation. Khaps have also called for boycott of leaders who do not support farmers. Elderly khap representatives are backed by youngsters, who can be seen reading books by Bhagat Singh and other freedom fighters. Khaps have staged their chaupal in the middle of the road, where they play cards, smoke hookah and discuss farm laws. Surja Ram, an elderly member of Saat Baas khap said, “BJP and RSS have jointly damaged the country with their decisions. Both outfits stood against martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Now, they are standing with industrialists to kill the voice of farmers. If farmers are not happy in fields and soldiers at the border, what will the nation’s future be? We will not go back from this place until our demands are met.” Ramchandar Singh, a resident of Jind said, “We have been staging a dharna here since December 5. We are here to show the strength of khaps, farmers of both states and the fraternity between us. We will die but not go back.”

The Times of India

2020-12-19

Chandigarh