Farmers Movement Archive

Tributes to freedom fighters at protests

BATHINDA: Tributes were paid to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on their 90th martyrdom day at all farm protest sites on Delhi borders and in Punjab on Tuesday. Youngsters reached the venue in Basanti turbans. At most protest sites, the stage was also managed by youngsters. In Singhu and Tikri borders of Delhi, 60 youth activists addressed the crowds. Soil was collected from Bhagat Singh’s native village Khatkar Kalan; Hussainiwala, where the mortal remains of the trio were scattered into the Satluj; Udham Singh’s birthplace Sunaml, Kartar Singh Sarabha’s birthplace Sarabha, Jallianwala Bagh, Anandpur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Sirhind. This soil was brought to Tikri and Singhu. Three padayatras (foot marches) also culminated at the protest sites at Delhi borders. Protesters resolved to continue fighting against the central government till it did not repeal the three farm laws. Farm activists have been camping on highways leading into Delhi since as early as November 26, 2020, to seek the repeal of farm laws. Farmers’ unions had initially planned to reach Delhi’s Ram Lila maidan for protest, but their way had been blocked on the day they left Punjab and Haryana villages for Delhi. Farm organisation BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri, while addressing the gathering at Tikri, said the farmer struggle will continue till the laws were not be repealed. “It is not only a matter of fighting against farm laws, but to build a society free from exploitation, oppression and where working masses should have their say as was envisioned by freedom fighters,” he said. He added youth and farmers had failed the Centre’s attempts to create differences in the farmer struggle. It was said central government is implementing the policies of privatisation, liberalisation and globalization on the instructions of imperialist institutions and due to pro-imperialism and pro-corporate policies of previous as well as present government, the youth faces the crisis of unemployment and illiteracy. This crisis will increase after the implementation of three farm laws. The central government under the garb of nationalism, is actually betraying its people by surrendering the public sector, built by exploiting the hard-earned incomes of its people, to the local and foreign corporate houses. Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union state general secretary Lachman Sewewala emphasised on the need to build a united a movement of labourers, farmers, urban poor and consumers by breaking the differences of caste and religion. It was said that farmers, labourers from Narmada Valley will also participate in the Mitti Satyagraha Yatra from Dandi, and the soil of this valley will be taken to the protest sites in Delhi on March 30.

The Times of India

2021-03-24

Amritsar