Farmers Movement Archive

Farmer drives tractor in reverse gear from Barnala to Delhi

Bathinda: Gurcharan Singh drove a tractor in reverse gear all the way from Barnala in Punjab to Singhu border in Delhi to push the central government to repeal the farm laws, covering 350km in five days in a ride that strained his finances and tested his physical and mental strength. “I had to be cautious about other motorists, spend more on diesel and take extra care of the vehicle’s clutch plate and brakes. My neck and legs ached for days. But it did not bother me. I just wanted to send a message to the government to put the laws in back gear,” said the farmer from Rasoolpur Phawahi village near Barnala who had started the journey on December 28 and reached on January 1. The 50-year-old is now back on the road, giving another message --- that of brotherhood and unity among people of different faiths. With a flag bearing religious symbols of Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims and Christians hoisted on his 1996 model Maruti 800 car, he headed for the Delhi border with his friend Harbans Singh in his third trip to the ground zero of the farmers’ protest on Saturday. “I had made the first visit to Singhu in my car in mid-December. After spending a few days, I went back and decided to return in a tractor. This trip is because of a section of people calling us anti-nationals and Khalistan supporters. I will show that people from different religions support us and farmers too respect all faiths. And, a slur against us is against all religions,” he said, adding that he will be participating in the Republic Day tractor parade on January 26.

The Times of India

2021-01-25

Amritsar