Farmers Movement Archive

‘Fought against Pakistan in 1965, I’m at war again’

MUZAFFARNAGAR: The influx of farmers for today’s Mahapanchayat began early on Friday as farmers from various districts and states started pouring into Muzaffarnagar. Among these farmers are dozens of Army veterans who consider the farmers’ movement nothing less than “a war against three farm laws”. One of the farmers and former Army jawan, Disha Singh, 75, a resident of Pilibhit, reached Muzaffarnagar wearing the bravery medal given to him during the 1965 war with Pakistan. “I was awarded this medal in the 1965 war. And now, I feel I am at war again. Sadly, this time with my own people. This is a war against the three draconian farm laws.” “Farmers do hard work in their fields, but they don’t get what they deserve. I appeal to the government to abolish all the three farm laws,” Singh said. Mani Deo Chaturvedi, 53-year-old farmer who was in BSF, has been protesting at the Ghazipur border in Delhi for weeks. He arrived in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday. “We are both soldiers and farmers. I am here for my countrymen and family. I am here to handle the security management, as many as 300 volunteers will work under my supervision,” Chaturvedi said. Gurcharan Singh, 69, a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri, is also a former Army jawan. “It is quite unfortunate that farmers in this country are fighting for a life of dignity. The three farm laws are not in the interest of the farmers. I have been at the Ghazipur border protesting along with other farmers for months. Now, I am here. We will fight till the end for scrapping these laws,” Singh said.

The Times of India

2021-09-05

Meerut