Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers victorious: Gurpurb cheer for farm activists across tricity

Tribune News ServiceChandigarh, November 19The morning of Gurpurb brought along a message of hope and happiness for farmers and farm activists across the tricity today when Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to repeal the three farm laws. The protest, however, is far from over, as farmers and activists refuse to count their chickens before they hatch.Modi’s promise sparked celebrations on various chowks, toll plazas and traffic light points that had become anti-farm laws protest sites for nearly a year now. Slogans of victory and sound of dhols resounded through these sites as people congratulated each other and distributed sweets. Some even danced. Passersby blew horns in support.At Matka Chowk, Laabh Singh, in his late 80s, said, “I appreciate the promise, but till the time the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) doesn’t give a call to cancel the protest, I won’t budge.” Singh has been protesting daily from 5 am to 8 pm at the chowk since March 6.Rajwinder Gill, who was one of the first protesters at the chowk, said, “I’m still in disbelief over the laws being revoked and so happy that I’ve almost forgotten about the FIRs slapped on me during the protests for farmers’ rights. I will continue to protest till the day these bills are scrapped in Parliament.”From the Naujawan Kisan Ekta (NKE), Sarbans Parteek, who said three FIRs were filed against him during the protests, said, “I feel proud that I was booked for fighting for farmers’ rights. The protest will continue. There’s still no clarity on the MSP, compensation for those who died at the protest sites and an official notification on repealing the laws yet.”Farm activists and farmers from 23 villages in the city gathered in large numbers in the evening at Matka Chowk, apart from small jubilations throughout the day in Ram Darbar, near the airport lights and the traffic lights of Sector 46, Sector 47, Sector 30 and Sector 36 and 37.Protest at toll plazas to continueThe protest at toll plazas around Chandigarh will continue, said Narinder Singh of the BKU (Charuni) and Kamal Singh of the Sarb Sanjha Kisan Morcha from Sohana in Mohali. “There were celebrations at the Chandimandir and Jalouli toll plaza today. The protests will continue till the government assures of the MSP and revokes the laws in the Parliament session. It was promised that every Indian will get Rs15 lakh. Did we get that money yet?” said Narinder. Kamal added, “The protest at the Bhago Majra toll plaza will also continue. There were celebrations throughout the day at the traffic lights near Sohana Gurdwara, Landran, Kurali and Kharar. We distributed sweets too.”Gurpreet Singh Somal of the Pendu Sangharsh Committee said the anti-BJP campaign in city villages too would continue. “We will campaign against the BJP in villages during the MC elections till the SKM issues further orders,” he saidTributes to be paid to ‘women martyrs’On Saturday, activists of Punjab Women Collective, comprising 11 organisations, will pay tributes to women martyrs in the farmers’ struggle. The Collective is organising the first national women convention, ‘Farmers Struggle and Earth Democracy’, at Punjab Kala Bhavan, Sector 16. The speakers of the event are author-activist Vandana Shiva, activist Medha Patkar and activist Dr Navsharan Kaur.

The Tribune

2021-11-20