Farmers Movement Archive

Women, youth come out in support of farmers

Tribune News ServiceJalandhar, September 26The agitation against the three “controversial” farm Bills is in high gear in the region, but what’s more amusing is the support extended to farmers from women, children and the youth in large numbers.Unlike any other day, the women, mostly belonging to the marginal farming groups, had different chores to do on Saturday. They had to support the males in their families, so that their voices could be heard more loudly. With the same enthusiasm, children, too, joined the protest today that was organised by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (Lohian), at Jalandhar Cantt railway station. The farmers were continuing with the third day of their “Rail Roko Andolan”.Having little knowledge about farm ordinances introduced by the Modi government, a group of women said: “We certainly don’t know the terms introduced in the Parliament, but we know that when a Bill is passed arbitrarily in the houses of Parliament, it impacts the kitchens in our homes. We have already been producing less crops and couldn’t grow enough to sell in the market, but whatever we sell should be sold at a fairly good price.”“Through the discussions, we learnt that the Bills are against the gains of producers. Even if we don’t quote well on the Bills, we know that if the ‘mandi’s’ will disappear, we won’t be able to sustain for long. Complete privatisation is wrong in every way. I remember most of the farmers in our village haven’t received their pending dues from the private mills. Thus we can’t accept the bills at any cost and will continue lending support to farmers,” said Jagirat Kaur.Likewise from carrying tractor rallies to ferrying elderly farmers to the protest venues, youth have become the much-needed strength for farmers at this time. While the elderly are seen standing in front of the mike and creating more clarity on farm Bills, the youth make arrangements for food and water. They ensure that a large number on people gets associated with them.Vikram Singh (24) said: “With the implementation of the farm Bills, we are fearful that the Agricultural Market Produce Committee (APMC) would lose it existence and we won’t get fair price for our crops. Therefore, it’s necessary that we support the agitating farmers, who are protecting the future of farming in the state, as eventually, we have to hold the batons. With the minimum support price set to be abolished and multinational companies set to take over our lands, we can’t see the farmers deep down in debts. Therefore, it’s a wake-up call to the government to pay heed to the needs and demands of farmers.”Meanwhile, Salwinder Singh Janiyan, zonal president of the committee, while warning the Centre said: “This is just the trailer of the protest. An intensified version of Jail Bharo Andolan. The Modi government should be prepared for our protest in Delhi. We will block all roads leading to Delhi if the Bills won’t be rolled back.”Jagtar Singh, Kang Khurd, Manpreet Singh, Jagtar Singh Chakk, Mohan Singh, Joginder Singh, Kishan Dev, Malkit Singh Janian, Paramjit Singh Sardarala, Tarlok Singh Gatti Peer Bucks, Sukhpreet Singh Hakim Singh, Baljinder Dhillon, Baljinder Singh Sherpur, Tarsem Singh Jabbowal, Bhajan Singh, Mukhtiar Singh, Jaswant Singh, were among the hundreds of farmers, who remain seated on the railway tracks on Saturday from 12:30 to 5 pm.Cong dares Som Parkash to clear stand on farm BillsPhagwara: Thousands of farmers led by MLA Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal and Chairman of Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Joginder Singh Mann marched towards the residence of Union Minister of State Som Parkash on Saturday to offer him a bottle of blood as a mark of protest over farm legislations passed by the Centre. "The hands of the Central government are drenched with the murder of agrarian economy of the country in general and farmers in particular, due to which we were presenting the unit of blood to him," said Dr Chabbewal and Mann while addressing farmers. He dared Som Parkash to clear his stand on the Bill. — TNS

The Tribune

2020-09-27