At Mela Ghadri Babeyan Da, agri issues take centre stage
Item
Title
At Mela Ghadri Babeyan Da, agri issues take centre stage
Description
“Ghadri babeyan de kaaj adhoore, laake jindriyan karange poore”. This slogan reverberated across the 65 morchas of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) (Ekta Ugrahan) on the day of the 29th Mela Ghadri Babeyan Da. Over 1,500 farmers across the state extended their support to the one-day event organised in Jalandhar today.Amid the Covid, a robust celebration of the mela witnessed a steadfast support to the farmers’ stir against the new Central laws.People’s groups, organisations and publications across the state also extended support by distributing posters, books, literature and even cartoons criticising the farm laws. From the stage, a declaration was also made to back the farmers’ agitation against the laws.Shingara Singh Mann, state secretary of the BKU (Ekta Ugrahan), said, “We have to fulfil the 100-year-old dream of the Ghadarites. All our morchas started today with tributes to our Ghadarite ancestors. Over 1,500 workers from all prominent districts were sent in buses to participate in the mela. We are walking in the footsteps of the Ghadarites and want a Punjab they dreamt of.”Sukhwinder Singh, a Dirba-based farmer who came with fellow farmers Mela Singh and Santa Singh, said, “We have come to get enlightened here. It’s our pilgrimage. Our rights are talked about here.”Dr Swaraj Bir, journalist, playwright and Editor of Punjabi Tribune, was the keynote speaker at the mela. He said the farm struggles were imperative for the state in its fight for its identity and dreams. — TNS
Publisher
The Tribune
Date
2020-11-02
Coverage
Jalandhar