Farmers Movement Archive

Holika Dahan: Protesters burn copies of farm laws

Gurgaon: Farmers protesting at the Shahjahanpur border and Jind organised Holika Dahan and burnt copies of the new farm laws on Sunday. The ritual was also aimed at increasing the number of agitators that had come down lately as many farmers returned to their villages for the harvesting season. “Holika Dahan symbolises victory of good over evil. It is a ritualaround Holi in which people burn the evil and welcome the harvest season. We burnt copies of the farm laws and we hope for our victory,” said Santokh Singh of Samyukta Kisan Morcha. In Gurgaon, several farmers, casual labourers and government employees gathered outside the Sarva Haryana Gramin Bank at Jharsa village around 6.30 pm on Sunday to perform the ritual. At Shahjahanpur border, protesters performed the ritual around 7 pm. “We organised Holika Dahan to strengthen our resolve. People pledged in front of the pyre that they will not leave till our demands are fulfilled, even if that means staying put here till next year’s Holi,” said a member of Jai Kisan Andolan, Manjit Thakral. In Jind, khaps asked local villagers to assemble at Khatkar toll plaza. “Instead of organising the ritual in different villages, we decided to have a common event. We asked villagers to come to the protest site for at least 30 minutes and take part in the ritual. This is to send out a message that our protest is far from being over. It is only getting stronger. All our festivals will be celebrated in a way that we keep our protest alive through those,” said Virendra Singh Sindhu, a member of Satrol khap. On the Haryana-Rajasthan border near Punhana, farmers burnt copies of the farm laws but not as part of Holika Dahan. “The protesters here are not too familiar with the rituals. But they showed their support by burning copies of the bill,” said Ramzan Chaudhary, a local farmer leader.

The Times of India

2021-03-29

Gurgaon