Farmers Movement Archive

Scenes of celebrations with gur, laddus & impromptu jigs around tractors in west UP, U’khand

Meerut/Muzaffarnagar/Agra/Rudrapur/Roorkee: After months of protesting against the three contentious farm laws, farmers in parts of western Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring Uttarakhand burst into a frenzy of celebrations following PM Narendra Modi's announcement to repeal the three laws. Jaggery (gur) and laddus were freely passed around and there were scenes of impromptu jigs around tractors to the tune of ragini songs and the beats of drums. While the farmers celebrated their "victory", many maintained a cautious approach. "It took a year for the government to make this decision. Farmers suffered a lot. They didn't deserve this kind of treatment," said Jitender Hooda, a farmer in Shamli. Another farmer, Naveen Pradhan, from Meerut, said, "A huge burden is off the shoulders of farmers. But they paid a heavy price to achieve this. We've sacrificed hundreds of our brethren during the year-long agitation. The government should not try to take credit for this so-called 'benevolence'. It was their mistake and they had to rectify it." Rakesh Dhankad, also from Meerut, said that “the decision was taken out of electoral compulsion." Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Agra division president Gajendra Singh Parihar said, “We welcome the decision. On Guru Nanak Dev ji's birthday, we are now on the threshold of victory - of truth and patience." In Agra, many also said that the PM should provide monetary help to the families of those who died during the agitation. Family members at the Kasganj house of Lakhvinder Singh, 60, who fell ill near Ghazipur border and died soon after on January 22, were still in mourning. His brother Satnam Singh said, “Over 700 farmers, including my brother, lost their lives. The PM did not utter a word in their memory.” Interestingly, the members of the ruling party who were advocating the "goodness of the agri laws" till a day ago, now sang a different tune. BJP's west UP vice-president Manoj Poswal said, "Modi ji took this decision in public interest to free ignorant farmers from the clutches of political opportunists." Meanwhile, the farmers of the Terai region, also known as the 'rice bowl of Uttarakhand', were elated. They assembled in Jaspur, Kashipur, Gadarpur, Rudrapur, Kichha, Nanakmatta, Sitarganj and Khatima towns to distribute sweets and burst crackers. "It is a huge relief for the people of the Terai region. It's a win for farmers and the labourers," said Tejender Singh Virk, president of the Terai Kisan Mahasabha, who was critically injured in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence on October 3 and is still undergoing treatment. Jagtar Singh Bajwa, member of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, said the protesting farmers would wait till the laws are repealed in Parliament. "We don't trust this government. They never stood for our cause," added Karm Singh Padda, BKU's state president. While Sahab Singh, district president of BKU (Chadhuni), said that "we will continue our peaceful protest till we get the official papers." (with inputs from Mohd Dilshad, Aakash Ahuja & Tapan Susheel)

The Times of India

2021-11-20

Meerut