People from all walks lend support to chakka jam in Amritsar

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, February 6

The three-hour ‘chakka jam’ organised by the farmer unions received an immense response from general public as protests were held at several places here on Saturday. Even people from non-agriculture sectors participated in the protest and demanded from the government to repeal the three controversial agri laws.

The protests were held at Golden Gate, Choagawan, Ajnala, Attari, Airport Road, Rayya, Beas, Jandiala Guru and several other places. Leaders of the farmer unions said the ‘chakka jam’ was completely successful besides being peaceful.

Rattan Singh Randhawa of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha said, “People are unanimous in protesting against the draconian agri laws. Even elected local bodies representatives such as sarpanches and panches from all political parties participated in the protests.”

Leaders of the farmer unions said the protest on Delhi borders would continue till their demands were accepted. Dalbir Singh Bedadpur, who along with other farmer leaders blocked the road at Rayya, said, “We are thankful to people who participated in the protest and expressed their solidarity with us. The government’s tricks to divide people on religious lines have failed.”

Members of Students For Society also blocked the GT road outside Guru Nanak Dev University and demanded that all farmers arrested after the January 26 incident in Delhi be released immediately. Raising slogans against the Modi government, members of the Khalsa College Students’ Forum too participated in the protest.

SFS leader Jaskamal Singh also criticised the government for restricting internet services. “With such cheap tactics, the government is trying to muzzle the voices for farmers,” he commented.

Khalsa College Students’ Forum leader Amiteshwar Singh said, “People should strongly support the cause of the farmers as once corporate giants set up their monopoly, consumers would be at their mercy. We all should stand united against the government in this fight against corporate honchos and privatisation,” he urged the students.

Damdami Taksal honours Tikait

Amritsar: Expressing solidarity with the farmers’ cause, members of Damdami Taksal (Bhindranwale, Mehta) on Friday joined the protest at Ghazipur border, Delhi. Taksal spokesperson Prof Sarchand Singh told that the contribution of BKU leader Rakesh Tikait in reviving the farm agitation with new life after it suffered set back due to January 26 tractor parade violence, was recognised by presenting him with siropa, Sri Sahib and a turban on his head at the Ghazipur stage. While addressing the gathering Giani Jiva Singh, Damdami Taksal activist accused the Modi government of being a puppet in the hands of the capitalists and ignoring the interests of the farmers. He said that nothing short of repealing the three black farm laws could be acceptable to the farmers. He appealed to the farmers to exercise restraint and continue their struggle. “Damdami Taksal stands with the farmers to meet their demands. Every effort would be made to save the farmers who have been carrying out peaceful agitation in Delhi for 72 days using their rights of democracy. The media reports suggest that the government was all set to suppress the peasant movement it had now become a mass movement and the government would have to withdraw the black law,” he said. Earlier, the Damdami Taksal delegation included SGPC general secretary Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Dharam Parchar committee member Ajaib Singh Abhyasi, Sant Samaj spokerperson Baba Gurbhej Singh, Giani Sahib Singh, Giani Palwinder Pal Singh Buttar, Jatha Sukhdev Singh Anandpur and Jatha Jarnail Singh, Kala Sarpanch Mehta. TNS