Chain reaction: This farmer is in shackles to break another

Item

Title

Chain reaction: This farmer is in shackles to break another

Description

NEW DELHI: For the last 18 days, Kabal Singh has been shackling his legs, hands and neck for the last every morning at 7am for 12 hours. However, Singh is not imprisoned, he is a 42-year-old farmer from Punjab who says that that farmers have become slaves in independent India due to the three new central farm laws and he will free himself from the chains only when the laws are withdrawn. A chained Singh dressed as a prisoner was part of a march at Singhu border on Friday along with other farmers, raising slogans against the “black” laws. A native of Abohar in Fazilka district of Punjab, Singh was accompanied by his mother when he left home. “My 86-year-old mother, Balbeer Kaur, broke her hip after she slipped near the tractor-trolley on our way to Singhu border around 20 days ago,” said the farmer. “I had to send my mother back home with a cousin for treatment, but stayed back as I wanted to fight for our rights.” Singh said his family in Punjab had to take a loan of Rs 1 lakh with interest for Kaur’s surgery. “Though my mother has recovered following the operation, I now have a huge loan to pay back. Like me, there are many farmers who earn little, struggle hard and have loans. However, the new laws will only add to our miseries and we have become slaves in our independent country due to involvement of corporates in the agriculture sector,” he said. “I have chained myself to awake the government from their sleep and attract their attention to our plight The farmer said due to chains, he faces difficulty in walking, eating and doing other chores, he is continuing his protest so that future generations of farmers do not have to suffer. “We would become free from shackles when the government will scrap new farm laws. I will end my protest and free myself when our demands are met,” said he.

Publisher

The Times of India

Date

2020-12-26

Coverage

Delhi