Farmers Movement Archive

Talks deadlocked, more farmers head to Delhi

Jalandhar, December 10A day after the Centre refused to alter the contentious farm laws, a wave of discontentment seems to have erupted among the farm bodies. While the agitators at Singhu and Tikri borders have already announced to ‘block’ Jaipur-Delhi and Delhi-Agra expressways, farmers from the region today left in large numbers to provide more manpower at the protest site.The farmers from across the villages today gathered at the Ladhowal toll plaza and chalked up the plans for the next 10 days. More such jathas (groups) of farmers are also likely to leave for Delhi-Haryana borders for the next four-five days. From bikes and tractors to lavish cars, the youngsters in the villages are making arrangements for more and more vehicles to ferry all farmers.Tirath Singh (62), a farmer from Phillaur, has been deployed at the toll plaza for the past 10 days by the Bhartiya Kisan Union to lift the spirits of farmers leaving for the protest site. He says, he arrives at the toll plaza everyday and puts flags and posters on vehicles of the farmers’ convoy. “With slogans such as, ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan, Kisan Ekta Zindabad’ and others, I try to keep their morale high. Today, around 50 vehicles left from the district in the morning and 30 in the evening. Though the union leaders have already stocked the ration, we also send some essential supplies to them,” added Tirath, who does farming on nearly 20 fields in Phillaur.Similarly, Harpreet Singh (40), a Lohian-based farmer, today decked up his tractor with tarpaulin and mattresses. Associated with the Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee, he said, he would leave for the border early in the morning on Friday. Along with him, 20 other farmers from his village will also join him. We are heading to the protest site leaving our fields behind and are also not aware that for how long we might have to stay there. We will ensure that our voices do get heard,” he added.Terming the meetings between the farmers and the government ‘unfruitful’, Shahkot president of the committee, Gurmail Singh said, “Apart from ration and snacks, pinnis and sweets, dry fruits are being contributed from all the households. To brave the cold weather, blankets and beds have been collected and the farmers will leave tomorrow for Singhu border. Our members, who have already been staying put at the border, have asked us to come fully prepared as we might have to spend at least a month here.”Nearly, 150 tractor-trailers will leave for Delhi tomorrow. The locals are coming forward with their share of wheat grains to be used for protest.

The Tribune

2020-12-11