Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers of Agra region mobilize support for R-Day tractor parade

Agra: Farmers of Agra region have started making elaborate preparations to participate in the massive tractor parade in Delhi on Republic Day, in protest against the three new farm laws. While senior leaders are campaigning in west UP villages to garner support for the parade, door-to-door meetings by young farmers are being held as well.To evade police, farm associations are planning to head to Delhi in small groups. The first batch of 50 tractors with 500 farmers from Agra district is scheduled to leave for Palwal in Haryana on January 23. By January 25, over 200 tractors from Agra region would report near the Delhi borders. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) has assigned targets to their district presidents of Agra region for mobilizing young farmers to Delhi border. Sensing possible police action, BKU leaders are avoiding taking women and the elderly to the stir. Over 10,000 farmers from districts of Agra region are required to report at the Ghazipur border by January 25, the members said, and according to their plan, a majority of the farmers will travel by cars, bikes or board buses. BKU Agra district president, Rajveer Lawaniya, said, “We are going to strengthen the stir against the three farm laws. Farmers will show their strength on January 26. Thousands of farmers from different states will participate in a historic tractor parade. Farmers from Agra will mark their strong presence too. We have outlined a detailed plan. Workers have been assigned specific responsibilities. The response from people is overwhelming."Farmer leader Shyam Singh Chahar said, “The Centre is unable to understand our discontent. Time has come to show the real strength of the farmers. Mass movement of farmers from Agra region to Delhi borders will take place from January 23 onward. Farmers from Agra district will reach the Delhi borders in small groups via different routes." Meanwhile, Agra-based social activist Savitri Chahar, who is camping at Ghazipur border for the past 12 days, is preparing to lead some of the women members as planned by the protest coordination committee.

The Times of India

2021-01-21

Agra