Farmers Movement Archive

BSP joins farmers protest at Singhu border on New Year eve

JALANDHAR: Bahujan Samaj Party activists have joined the farmers’ protest at Singhu border. Led by state president Jasbir Singh Garhi, BSP cadres first gathered at Shambhu border and then left in a cavalcade of 100 cars in the afternoon on Thursday to join the protest on the New Year eve. BSP workers did not carry their party flag but a blue flag with picture of Ambedkar on it. They also waved banners in support of farmers and on unity of farmers and labourers. Mayawati’s outfit is apparently the first party to participate in the protest in numbers as farmers unions have been keeping political leaders away from the stage. “Our purpose is to show solidarity of the labourers, most of whom come from scheduled caste, with the farmers. Our idea is more social than political as BJP has been trying to divide people on caste lines and we wish to unite them. We hope that our participation would send a signal in the society. We shall spend New Year’s first day with farmers,” said Garhi while speaking to TOI on way to Delhi border. He said they wanted to strengthen the social fabric in Punjab. Earlier, the party had performed ardas at Darbar Sahib in the memory of those who died during the farmers protest in the last over one month. Already, many farm labourers have been participating in the agitation and Dalit singers and heads of different deras have also participated and even addressed the gathering from the main stage. Though some Dalits also own land or work as agriculturists, most of the protesting farmers are Jatt Sikhs. Most of the labourers come from scheduled caste or migrants.

The Times of India

2021-01-01

Ludhiana