Farmers Movement Archive

No politician allowed on stage

Thikriwal (Barnala): In a break from tradition, the ruling party in Punjab was not allowed to share stage on the martyrdom day of Riyasti Praja Mandal founder Sewa Singh Thikriwala at his native village Thikriwal in Barnala district on Tuesday. Owing to the ongoing farmers agitation against the central agriculture marketing laws, Thikriwal residents and local gurdwara committee had unanimously decided not to let any political activity to happen at the 86th martyrdom day of Thikriwala. The organising committee had unanimously decided not to allow political leaders from any party to address the gathering and ensured that the farmer leaders filled the void. Banners proclaiming politicians not allowed were put up on the stage and at a stall set up outside the pandal. A two-day function is organised in the village every year on January 19 and 20. Generally, on the first day, the ruling party manages the stage and many a times chief ministers have come to pay tributes. On the second say, time slots are provided to opposition parties to use the stage. Thikriwal had attained martyrdom in Patiala jail on the night of January 19, 1935. Canada’s New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh hails from Thikriwala’s clan. “Senior leaders of the ruling and the opposition parties throng the martyrdom day and even chief ministers have come here to pay tributes to the martyr. But owing to the farmers struggle this year, we had asked the political leaders not to come to address the gathering, and no one has dared to come. Though senior leaders of farm organisations were called to address the gathering, as they are busy with the meeting with central government, only district level leaders, apart from Sewa Singh’s maternal grandson Captain Amarjit Singh Jaijee, reached here to pay tributes,” said gurdwara committee president Bhajan Singh. Gurdial Singh Mann, member of the committee that oversees arrangements of martyrdom day, said, “We had put up banners barring entry of politicians. It is a sacred day for the villagers and we do not want political figures to come and indulge in politics when the entire Punjab is in a protest mode over farm laws. Similarly, no politician will be allowed on the second day earlier used to be reserved for the leaders from opposition parties and only those in protests will be allowed.”

The Times of India

2021-01-20

Chandigarh