Farmers Movement Archive

Delhi: Over 200 women lend their voice to farmers’ agitation

NEW DELHI: With the farmers’ agitation entering the eighth month, more than 200 women gathered at Jantar Mantar on Monday and took turns to voice their demands and raise slogans demanding scrapping of the three farm laws. The women’s Kisan Sansad was moderated by “speaker” Subhasini Ali. It commenced with the singing of the national anthem, followed by observation of silence for two minutes in the memory of farmers who died during the agitation. The women said politicians called them names, but it didn’t deter them from keeping the protest alive. Actress-activist Gul Panag was also present there in their support. “Sikhs are known to help people, and that’s why the entire world is standing in our support. Yet, the government has paid no heed to us. We were here yesterday to demand our rights and we will be here tomorrow, too, if those are not fulfilled,” said Satinder Kaur, who has been staying at Singhu border since the last two months along with her family members. Manpreet, another protester, said it was shameful how the government was treating them and refusing to listen to them. “If the demands are unanswered, it means the government is failing to understand why we are protesting in the first place. What joy are we getting in sitting on the streets? None. Yet it seems like a joke to the government,” she added. Another participant, Kiran, said most women there had been away from their homes for long, along with their children. She added, “Men and women have equally taken part in the protest ever since it began. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that so many women have gathered here today to protest for their rights.” “Many politicians have villainised us and claimed that farmers have ulterior motives. But no one is ready to listen to what we want. We are fighting hard for our rights. We are barely a short distance away from Parliament, yet there has been no indication of any dialogue. Our sansad will continue,” said Sudesh, a farmer. Farmers have been protesting at Delhi's borders since November 26 last year against the three farm laws, Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farms Services Act 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The Times of India

2021-07-27

Delhi