Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers get support at Ravidas events

Phagwara/Hoshiarpur: Farmer groups participated in shobha yatras (religious processions) on the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas. The organizers of the shobha yatras at two places assured farm groups that they would make special efforts for more Dalit participation in the farmers’ protest on Delhi borders. Sanyukt Kisan Morcha had already announced to celebrate the anniversary at Singhu border and also appealed to the farmers back home to participate in the functions in their villages and towns in this connection. A few hundred members of BKU (Doaba) went to Guru Ravidas temple at Chak Hakim village on the outskirts of Phagwara, the starting point of the religious procession in which thousands of Ravidasia/Adi-dharmi community members participate every year, and served fruits and packed water to the participants at Sugar Mill chowk. In Hoshiarpur, leaders and members of Kandhi Kisan Sangharsh Committee participated in the religious procession. Jadish Lal Badhan, president of Guru Ravidas Nagar Kirtan Committee, honoured the leaders of the committee and said that this participation by the farmers was heartening and would further improve the social fabric between farmers (most of whom are Jat Sikhs) and Dalits. He said after the anniversary functions, they would also join the farmers at Delhi borders. Kandi Kisan Sangharash Committee leaders also participated in the religious procession at Odhra village near Dasuya. Sant Jaspal Singh, who played a key role in organizing the shobha yatra, said after anniversary functions, he would lead a jatha to particiapte in the farmers protest.

The Times of India

2021-02-27

Chandigarh