Farmers Movement Archive

In Ajnala, locals say deaths have motivated them to go to Delhi

AJNALA: Two farmers from Ajnala tehsil have during the protests against the Centre’s agriculture bills, but the tragedies are not proving to be a deterrent for farmers, local traders and citizens from going to the agitations on th eborders of Delhi. An octagenarian resident of Raipur Khurd village, Rattan Singh, who owned an acre of land had gone to Delhi on December 1, but had to return on December 14 owing to poor health. As his health deteriorated, he was admitted to a hospital, where he breathed his last on December 26. Rattan was also a ‘halwai’ and was serving langar run by Gurudwara Shri Head Darbar Kot Puran Sahib, Ropar, at Delhi’s Singhu border. Similarly, Balbir Singh, a resident of Bagga village had also died while he was returning from Delhi on December 11 to attend his son’s marriage which was scheduled for January 15. Balbir Singh had gone to Delhi on December 8. “Despite losing two precious lives, our morale is as high as it was before the beginning of the agitation. We are asking people to go to Delhi in large number so the sacrifices of Rattan Singh and Balbir Singh don’t go waste,” said a local resident of Ajnala, Zorawar Singh, who is mobilising people to go to Delhi. Staring that every movement required sacrifices, Ajnala resident Goldy Riar said there was no lack of enthusiasm among people. “Instead, their sacrifices have motivated people to contribute to the struggle,” he said. Bachittar Singh, a farmer leader, said the time was not to grieve, but to continue the struggle. “We will not be deterred by any sacrifice since it’s a matter of our and our children’s lives,” he said.

The Times of India

2020-12-30

Chandigarh