Farmers Movement Archive

13 months into protests, Punjab farmers vow to continue fight

BATHINDA: While the raging debates are under way over opening of passage at the borders of Delhi where farmers are fighting for the repeal of the three farm laws and guarantee on MSP, the farmers in Punjab completed 13 months into protests on Sunday. The farmers would observe second consecutive Diwali while protesting in Punjab. These protests have continued at over 100 locations, including toll plazas, business establishments of select corporates, jurisdiction of railway stations and outside residences of BJP leaders. While the protests in Punjab have completed 13 months, the protests at the borders of Delhi will complete a year in the next four weeks on November 26. During these months, the echo of protests had been felt in many countries especially where Indian diaspora is settled. Many lawmakers from various countries and noted personalities have raised voice in support of protesting farmers. On October 1, 2020, the farmers had started the indefinite protests after the presidential assent to farm laws on September 27, 2020. Since then, farmers have never looked back. During these 13 months, while the corporates had to suffer loses in business, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) too has lost nearly Rs 1,200 crore as toll collection. It is Walmart’s Best Price which faced a lot of heartburn as its outlet at Bhucho near Bathinda had to be closed. The company had to approach the high court even to get perishable items removed and had to take back the employees fired after closing of the big outlet. “The counting of months into protest is now only customary as we are ready for a big fight and don’t want to get limited to weeks, months or even years. Our fight will continue till Narendra Modi government agrees to repeal farm laws and enact a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) to every farmer on every commodity. But surely the BJP-led central government is taking our protest as a fight against its own people and not ready to listen to the miseries of aggrieved farmers. Such a government could never be called as a democratic which cares for everyone,” said BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan. “The farmers are being treated indifferently in their own country and it is being projected that the fight, howsoever long it might be, for the demands which are not liked by the government have got no response. It is time to give another political blow to BJP in UP after West Bengal,” said BKU (Ekta Dakaunda) president Buta Singh Burjgill.

The Times of India

2021-11-01

Amritsar