Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers to fast for a day, gathering at Singhu swells

The farmers’ unions, leading protests at the borders of the national capital against the three new farm laws, on Sunday announced that the leaders of all farmer organisations will observe a day-long hunger strike on Monday (December 14) as part of their ongoing agitation. The farmers said that protests will also be held in other parts of the country.Addressing a press conference at Singhu border on Sunday evening, farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni said that the hunger strike will be held between 8 am to 5 pm. “The leaders of all farmers associations protesting against the new farm laws will observe a hunger strike on Monday demanding complete repeal of the laws. They will observe the strike from their respective places. Besides, dharnas will be held at all district headquarters across the country on Monday,” he said.Govt made record payments under MGNREGS this yearThe unions also disassociated themselves from a delegation of farmers from Uttarakhand, who met Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday and extended their support to the three new laws. “Those who met the minister have nothing to do with farming. Some of the farmers who were present in the meeting have other businesses too. They have been brought here from Uttarakhand by a political leader,” said another farmer leader Jasbir Singh.On Sunday, the protests continued across Delhi borders with more farmers joining the stir at Singhu. Among those who had arrived on Sunday, was a group of 40 people, including 15 women, from Ludhiana. Hargovind Singh, 50, said, “Many people from our village and neighbouring villages are already here participating in the protest. We also wanted to be a part of this historic fight for our rights. We saw many trucks and trolleys heading towards Delhi on the way.”Earlier in the day, around 10 trolleys, from Jalandhar, Amritsar and Kapurthalan, also managed to come a little ahead of the space where the farmers are sitting.Kejriwal asks party workers, nation to fast for a day to support farmersJugraaj Singh, a farmer from Jalandhar, said, “The number of protesters are increasing day by day and hence we have to expand the space here. That’s why some of us tried to move forward.” However, they were stopped by the police near the petrol pump and heavy barricading was done to restrict any further movement. Jitender Kumar Meena, additional deputy commissioner of police, said some trucks and tractors of the farmers camping at Singhu border had returned back and some new groups in trucks and tractors arrived at Singhu late on Saturday night and Sunday morning. “These farmers have joined the protest. We continue to maintain adequate arrangement in place. The situation has been peaceful,” he said.Chila border: Delhi-Noida road reopened after farmers clear outThe protesters were seen shouting slogans against the government, singing songs, taking out marches with posters and banners, and attending speeches delivered from the stage, throughout the day at the borders. A group of supporters visiting Singhu border on Sunday, including Harpreet Singh, a class 11 student at a private school in Ramesh Nagar, were seen cleaning the protest site. “Thousands of people are visiting here everyday and there is no limit of food being distributed to everyone here that’s why there’s so much garbage. It’s not good for the health of protesters. So, as I decided to pick plastic waste and bottles as my contribution to the protest,” he said.A group of artists from Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) were also seen making posters and banners in support of farmers at the border on Sunday. Manish, a member of the group, said, “If there will be no farmers, there won’t be any food or any future.”The protest site at the Ghazipur border remained peaceful on Sunday with the farmer groups spending most of their day delivering speeches, raising slogans against the newly passed farm bills, and cooking and distributing food at langars. As the number of farmers at Ghazipur on Sunday remained limited, those camping at the border said that many other groups from different parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are on their way to join the agitation. “From here, our agitation will only strengthen. More farmer brothers are on their way to join us and strengthen the movement. Our stand has been clear since day one that we want the law to be repealed,” said Rajender Kumar, a farmer from Bulandshahr.Police deployment also remained adequate on Sunday at Ghazipur border with senior police officers taking stock of the situation. Deputy commissioner of police (east) Jasmeet Singh said they are continuously monitoring the situation. “Our forces, along with UP police as well as the paramilitary personnel, are deployed in the area. Farmers are continuing their protests peacefully,” Singh said.

Hindustan Times

14-12-2020

Delhi