Farmers Movement Archive

When a 2,000-vehicle convoy headed to Singhu border

Tribune News ServiceJalandhar, December 13“2024 tak date ranhange – jad tak kale kanoon radd nahi hunde, asi nahi hilde” (we’ll stay till 2024, we won’t budge as long as these black laws are not withdrawn), said a farmer at Singhu border.On December 11, when farmers of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee headed for their journey towards the Haryana border to participate in their leg of protests, little did they know that the number of farmers and vehicles joining them would far exceed their own estimate. While it was expected that 70 vehicles will go from the district, by the time everyone turned up, there was a caravan of 250 to 300 vehicle already.We expected 1,200 vehicles in all, maximum 70-80 vehicles from Jalandhar. But we received a flood of vehicles. We had to reorganise all over again because so many farmers came in. We expected only one trailer from a village, but they sent in two. Many villages shocked us with such enthusiasm. Many more are still coming. Everyone is keen on getting the laws repealed. It is a question of our future. Major Singh, of Bara Jodh Singh villageFrom across the state, 1,200 vehicles of the union were expected to go on the same day, but on Sunday morning at 2.30 am, a 2,000 vehicle-strong caravan landed at the Singhu border.Amid farmers’ protests and the current deadlock between farm leaders and the government over the three farm laws, there is a surge of enthusiasm among farmers to head to the protest site at the Delhi border. While unions are flooded with jathas going from all cities, an overwhelming number of private vehicles and farmers, eager to join, are also heading to the protest site.Our 2,000-vehicle caravan reached at 2.30am. It took two days of organising, stopping over, coordinating and deliberations for all of us to finally reach. We never expected so many people to turn up. From every village, people are eager to come. People came in packed tractor-trailers, many women and children also accompanied us. As many as 250 of our trailers are there already. They are yet to reach the protest site as they are stuck. It has also been very hectic for us, we haven't slept for two days. But the enthusiasm is infectious. Salwinder Singh Jania, district president, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee While a thief was trying to sneak out iron planks off a truck at Singhu border, Salwinder Singh Jania, district president, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee after taking care of it said: “Our 2,000 vehicle caravan reached at 2.30 am. It took two days of organising, stopping over, coordinating and deliberations for all of us to finally reach. We never expected so many people to turn up. From every village people are eager to come. People came in packed tractor trailers, many women and children also accompanied us. As many as 250 of our trailers are back there. They are yet to reach the protest site as they are stuck. It has also been very hectic for us, we haven’t slept for two days. But the enthusiasm is infectious.”Salwinder adds: “We have come with all ration, provisions, beds and mattresses. We shall stay till 2024 if need be. None of us are relenting until the laws are withdrawn. On Friday, at least 1 lakh of us came here in 2,000 vehicles from Jalandhar, Frozepur and Tarn Taran. More from Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Amritsar and other places are ready to come. We are here for the long haul. Many of us keep coming and going back.”Major Singh, a resident of Bara Jodh Singh village in Jalandhar, says: “We expected 1,200 vehicles in all, maximum 70-80 vehicles from Jalandhar. But we received a flood of vehicles. We had to reorganise all over again because so many farmers came in. We expected only one trailer from a village, but they sent in two. Many villages shocked us with the enthusiasm. Lakhs of people have come in. Earlier jathas of our union have been sitting since the beginning of protests. People have come in trucks, tractor-trailers. Seventeen jeeps came in from Jalandhar alone, 20 to 50 people come in single vehicle. Many more are still coming. Everyone is keen on getting the laws dismissed. It is a question of our future.”Farmers said their relatives and kin and neighbours have readily agreed to take care of their crops, animals and families, as they are away to the protest site. “We have forgotten our crops. Our brethren will take care of it,” quips Major Singh.Farmers to protest outside Phagwara ADC’s office todayJalandhar: A huge movement of the farmers is already being witnessed in Delhi where farmers have reached from almost every corner of the state. Farmers have been going to Delhi and coming back to Jalandhar and Nawanshahr to meet their family members and for other their domestic works. Some farmers on Sunday returned to Doaba to hold a protest against the government. Davinder Singh from Nawanshahr reached at 5 in the morning on Sunday. He said a huge protest would be held on December 14 outside the Additional Deputy Commissioner’s office in Phagwara where scores of farmers would gather and protest. “I will be going back tomorrow again to join my fellow farmers at the Singhu border. This is what we are dedicated to for now. We want justice and nothing else,” he said. Randeep Singh from Phillaur said that it was very tiresome to commute daily. “I had gone with farmers 18 days ago when the protest started. I remained there for eight days and came back to take along some essentials with me. After taking rest, I again went back and had to come to Phillaur today to join the protest in Phagwara tomorrow,” he said. The farmers have also asked the maximum number of fellow farmers to join them in the protest tomorrow. “We will be meeting at the grain market in Phagwara and then will march towards the ADC’s office,” a farmer said. To express solidarity with the agitating farmers against the contentious farm laws, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab have also announced to hold separate state-level protests on December 14. Both parties have said that they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the protesting farmers and will leave no stone unturned to get their demands fulfilled. TNS

The Tribune

2020-12-14