Farmers Movement Archive

Trailer to tractor parade violence played out on R-Day eve

Jalandhar: Signs of things turning awry and getting out of the hands of Snmyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Tuesday morning was evident on the eve of Republic Day. On Monday evening, thousands of youngsters had gathered at Singhu and started raising slogans of “our route ring road” and even captured the stage, which was empty when they reached there as SKM leaders had ended their activities early in the evening and the sound system was also switched off. In fact, the sentiment of sticking to Ring Road was being shared and promoted on social media after SKM leaders had agreed to an alternate route for the tractor march. Even a slogan, ‘Our Route Ring Road’, was coined and placards printed. Sikh writer Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke posted a picture of one such small placard while being flanked by Kisan Mazdoor Sangharash Committee president Satnam Singh Pannu and others. MKSC had announced to take the Ring Road route on Monday evening. Drama around the stage continued for a couple of hours till Monday night. Even as the atmosphere was charged, none appeared to be in charge. It is learnt SKM leaders were already apprehending trouble and preferred to close all businesses of the day around 5pm and left the stage. It is learnt that Lakha Sidhana, a former gangster who now claims to be a social worker, also came to Singhu and tried to defuse the tension, He returned after failing and then did a Facebook live in which he said it was everybody’s responsibility that no one was harmed during the march on Tuesday. However, Sidhu also came there and, later, some Sikh activists intervened to defuse the tension. At the time, a five-member committee was formed to talk to SKM leaders. Though the issue was sorted out at night, it had become clear that Tuesday would not be a cakewalk. Box – Exhortations to reach Delhi with tractors panted up sentiments As farmers unions leaders had been exhorting people to reach Delhi with maximum numbers of tractors to take out the parade “inside Delhi” and then they repeatedly referred to Ring Road route, a strong sentiment was there among people for the parade and it was also palpable about going “inside Delhi” on social media. Lakha Sidhana also attacked by farm leaders On Wednesday, Lakha Sidhana was also attacked by farmers unions in their speeches and was called a traitor of the farmers movement. He also had a bitter-sweet relation with union leaders. Slogans were also raised against him on Wednesday and a leader also called him “agent of agencies” “who tried to backstab the movement”. Kirti Kisan Union leader Rajiinder Singh Deep Singh Wala argued that even in normal days, people had difficulty in going there, but agents of agencies of government were given passage to Red Fort. “Our agitation was to be covered by global media. However, BJP enacted the drama at Red Fort through its agents. A narrative was built to make it a Sikh-versus-Hindu issue and some people said Sardars (Sikhs) did not do the right thing,” he said, adding that those who did the drama at Red Fort were “not Sardaars, but gadaars (traitors)”.

The Times of India

2021-01-28

Chandigarh