Farmers Movement Archive

‘Dilli Chalo-II’ rolls from Punjab, more farmers to set off today

BATHINDA/PATIALA/JIND: Initiating part two of the ‘Dilli Chalo’ campaign on completion of one month of the protest against Centre’s new agricultural laws at Delhi’s borders, thousands of farmers and farm workers began heading for Delhi on Saturday. After BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), the biggest farm organisation in Punjab, asked its activists to go to Delhi on December 26-27, farmers from Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala, Sangrur and Patiala left in tractor trolleys, buses and private cars. Farmers from Punjab make night halt at Jind villagesThe protesters passed through Khanauri border, whereas those from other districts were to move towards Tikri border from Dabwali, passing through Hisar on Sunday. Many other protesters from various farm groups also crossed the Shambhu border in Patiala district adjoining Ambala on way to Singhu border. BKU Ugrahan general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri claimed that around 14,000 farmers left for Delhi in 450 tractor-trolleys, 50 buses, 60 canters and 400 cars and more would leave the following day. Despite the biting cold, elderly men and women accompanied protesters heading towards Delhi border in covered trolleys. The farmers who crossed the inter-state border near Khanauri in Sangrur district were accorded a warm welcome by villagers and farmers of Haryana’s villages. A number of farmers of Ugrahan group gathered at Khanauri border before entering Haryana at around 1 pm and then staged a protest at Kharkhar Toll Plaza in Jind of Haryana along with the local farmers. A few kilometres away from the toll plaza, the farmers halted at Jhanj Kalan, Jhanj Khurd and Barodi villages. “We don’t feel that we have come to another state, but to our relatives' houses, where we are getting a warm welcome. Haryana was part of Punjab but the politicians divided us for their political benefits. We are thankful for the support extended by Haryana farmers and the villagers and we have no words to express our gratefulness. They have arranged accommodation for us in three government schools and provided beddings,” said Jagtar Singh, press secretary Sangrur BKU Ekta-Ugrahan. Suresh Kumar, a resident of Jhanj Kalan, said they on getting information that groups of farmers and labourers from Punjab will enter Haryana through Data Singhwala border on Saturday, we contacted them and asked them to stay at our villages. “We have opened the doors of our villages for our elder brothers, mothers, sisters and elderly people. The women from our villages came in large numbers to prepare food for the farmers, who are on way to Delhi,” he added. Roshni Devi, a resident of Barodi village, said she along with two dozen women from her village reached the school, where arrangements of food and stay were made for Punjab farmers. “We have a lot of love for Punjab farmers, who are leading this farm agitation against the Union government. I had asked three women from Tarn Taran to stay at my home for the night. The residents of our village have arranged food, warm milk, halwa, energy booster items, clothes and many other things. This agitation has brought Haryana and Punjab farmers closer,” she added. Hardeep Singh, a farmer from Gurdaspur, said he was overwhelmed by the hospitality of the Jind farmers. “ We have never seen such arrangements, and the faces of local residents show their affection. Few elderly people, who were waiting for us at Jhanj Kalan, told us to come back only after winning this battle against the government. There is no issue of SYL between us, and politicians from both the states are raising this issue for their benefits, and we (farmers) will solve this issue on our own,” he added. Harjit Singh, BKU leader from Bhawanigarh block of Sangrur said, “The villagers of Haryana have been making arrangements for our stay for us from last two days and we have been invited to stay in their houses like family members.” Karan Singh Pehalwan, member of organising committee in Jhanj Kalan village said, “Punjab farmers are our brothers and we feel pleasure in welcoming them and supporting them. Besides schools and houses in the three villages, tents have been put up for the stay of Punjab and Haryana farmers.”

The Times of India

2020-12-27

Amritsar