Farmers Movement Archive

Army veterans to lay down 25,000 medals for farmers’ cause

Army veterans camping at the Singhu border, the heart of the farmers’ agitation, have collected 5,000 gallantry medals since November 26 to return to the Union government “in lieu” of a decision to repeal the three new farm laws. Predominantly hailing from Punjab and Haryana and with farming as a source of sustenance now, the veterans said on Saturday that they planned to collect 25,000 medals over the next two days. Lakhs more are on their way to the protest site, they added. “I come from a family of jawans (soldiers) andkisans(farmers), which have eight martyrs either in war or at the border. I was proud of that fact, but because of what the government is doing to us now, it has begun feeling like this country is no longer worth living in, leave alone to die for,” said retired Havaldar Balwant Singh, 80, from Jhajjar in Haryana. “We have been here since the 26th [of November] and the government, instead of listening to us cry, is busy finding ways to force upon us these black laws created by people in air-conditioned rooms.” Retired Subedar S.P. Singh from Gurdaspur said some six farmers were detained when they had attempted to meet President Ram Nath Kovind to return a small batch of medals last week. Retired Havaldar Bartar Singh from Patiala alleged that the group of veterans was detained for two whole days and their phones and belongings were confiscated.

The Hindu

2020-12-13

New Delhi