Farmers Movement Archive

Working professionals to aid of protesting farmers in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Nine working professionals from Pune reached Singhu border on Friday under the banner of Lokayat to join the farmers’ protest. The self-funded group declared they had come to lend their support to the protest and will stay at the border for a week. Nikhil Rajankar, 29, who works as a tutor in Pune, said, “I teach students from Class VIII to X, but have given them a break to be able to come to Delhi to support the agitating farmers. We are a group of nine, which includes three women. All of us are working professionals and have taken leave from work to come and support the cause of the farmers.” Rajankar said many protests had been staged in Delhi, but described the current one as “one of the biggest”. While Rajankar maintained that the new agriculture laws would create further problems for the farmers not just in Delhi, but even in Pune, other members of his group visited local farmers during the day. Playing the tambourine and shouting slogans to boost the spirits of the protestors, the group also distributed newsletters in Hindi and English giving details about the laws and analysing the effects they could have on the farmers. The group will camp in Delhi for a week and live in the tents installed at Singhu border. The group is self-funded, with each member having contributed money to come for the protest and to visit places to support the farmers’ cause. Varsha Sapkal, 36, said, “I am here for a week, but our group will keep visiting in turns. We were following the news, but wanted to come and experience the movement for ourselves. This protest started because of the efforts of the farmers and has been growing by the day.” She said that all people should come out and raise their voice on every contentious issue, be it health, women or a national crisis. Sapkal’s husband also works with Lokayat, but is currently engaged with other group members in Pune.

The Times of India

2021-01-16

Delhi