Farmers Movement Archive

A tribute to those who died for a cause

Tribune News ServiceJalandhar, December 20Farmers’ unions and residents across the region observed ‘Shradhanjali Diwas’ to mark the sacrifices of the 24 men, who lost lives in the course of farmers’ protests, here on Sunday.Huge flex boards of the 24 persons who died during the farm protests at Delhi border were put up at all sites in the district, where demonstrations were held.Events were held at the DC office Jalandhar, Sanghowal Toll Plaza (Mehatpur), Kartarpur, Phillaur, Nakodar among a number of other villages. While a number of kisan unions gathered outside the DC office on the ‘Shradhanjali Diwas’, farmers, while condemning tax raids on arhtiyas, sought the withdrawal of ordinances from the Centre to prevent the loss of lives.Organisations such as Bharti Kisan Union, Qadian, Kirti Kisan Union, Pendu Mazdoor Union, Doaba Kisan Union, Doaba Sangharsh Committee, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha among others also took part in the demonstration.At the DC office demonstration, activists of the Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal) and Kirti Kisan Union paid tributes to the 24 martyrs in an event that was held from 10 am to 1 pm. Activists observed a one-minute silence for farmers, who lost lives during the andolan and exhorted all farmers to pledge to play an active role in the protests and extend support to the stir as long as their demands are not met.President of the union Mandeep Singh Samra, secretary Kulwinder Singh Mashiana, Pargat Singh Sarhali and Youth Congress leader Amarjit Singh Jyoti also spoke on the occasion.On the call of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, various farmers’ groups also held a demonstration at the Sanghowal toll plaza to pay tributes to farmers who died while protesting against the three farm laws at the Singhu border. Leaders said despite so many farmers sacrificing their lives, facing all kinds of hurdles and amid the biting winter chill, farmers stay put at the Delhi border awaiting the withdrawal of the three farmers’ resolutions. They said while the biting cold had claimed many lives, farmers’ demand remain unaddressed by the Centre.Kirti Kisan Union’s Rajinder Mand, Harpreet Singh Uppal, Istri Jagriti Manch’s Anita Sandhu, Kul Hind Kisan Sabha leader Sandeep Arora, Mandeep Sidhu, Dehati Mazdoor Sabha state president Darsan Nahar, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha leader Master Gurdev Singh Uggi among others were also present on the occasion.At the Kartarpur Morcha, activists condemned the income tax raids on arhtiyas supporting the farm stirs. They demanded the withdrawal of the farm ordinances and sought from the Central Government that it should stop targeting those who were supporting the fight for farmers’ livelihood and future. Kashmri Singh Ghushore, Gurpreet Singh Cheezan, Balvinder Kaur Dyalpur among others were present on the occasion.

The Tribune

2020-12-21