Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers in Terai, Roorkee observe "black day", burn effigies of Union Govt

Rudrapur/Roorkee: Farmers in various towns of Terai region, Uttarakhand’s “rice bowl”, observed “black day” on Wednesday to mark six months of the farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws. Farmers carried black flags and burned effigies in protest. Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supported the farmers’ cause. In Jaspur, farmers led by Sheetal Singh, secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), protested at the sub divisional magistrate's (SDM) office and submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India, demanding repeal of the farm laws. The farmers then hoisted black flags and burnt an effigy of the Central government. In Kashipur, farmers led ‘jathas’ (processions led by Sikhs) and burnt the Centre’s effigy. Farmers in Gadarpur, Kichha, Sitarganj, Nanakmatta and Khatima towns of the district also took out protest marches, carrying black flags and raising slogans against the Union government. “The struggle will continue until the laws are repealed. We owe it to those who sacrificed their lives in the struggle and to our future generations,” said Najot Singh Bhullar, a farmer from Kichha. Vikramjeet Singh, a farmer from Bigwada village, said that the farmers will never desist. “The struggle has not exhausted us. It has rather strengthened our zeal. People like me go to the dharna site every week, fighting for our rights, because we understand that struggles yield results,” he said. Meanwhile, the protest was rather muted in Udham Singh Nagar district headquarters Rudrapur, where only Congress party members staged a dharna at Gandhi Park, where former minister Tilak Raj Behar delivered a speech. “The farmers’ agitation has completed six months. A large number of farmers have left their families and are sitting at the border but the Union government has shown them no sensitivity. Congress stands in solidarity with the protesting farmers and urges the government to hold talks with them with a positive mindset,” Behar said. In Roorkee and Gurkul Narsan, black day was observed on the call of BKU leader Naresh Tikait. “It was the biggest mistake of farmers to cast their votes for BJP. They looted us with both hands after imposing the farm laws. We are waiting to uproot their government at the Centre. The Black Day protest was observed with adherence to Covid guidelines,” said Padam Singh Rod, vice president of Uttarakhand unit of BKU at a government guest house where he presented a memorandum against the farm laws to the additional sub divisional magistrate Puran Singh Rana.

The Times of India

2021-05-27

Dehradun