Protest at Matka Chowk to become daily feature

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 30

In the sea of ‘no farmer, no food’ flags dotting four dividers skirting the road around Matka Chowk in the city, the Tricolour stood tall.

From now on, till the Central Government decides to roll back the three controversial farm laws, the chowk would become the stage for resistance everyday from 5 pm to 7 pm, said about a hundred people from different organisations and civil societies today.

While the city police kept a watchful eye on protesters and guided the traffic, help from a neighbouring restaurant and a benevolent street vendor came in the form of langar.

Sidak Singh, a lawyer and an agriculturist, joined the protest on looking at the people supporting the farmers. “I was just passing by and stood here because the three laws are anti-farmer. I’m ashamed at how some anti-farmer forces have tried to stain this protest,” he said.

For Harbans Kaur, who retired from Markfed years ago and is one of the members of the Kisan Welfare Society of Punjab, said: “The Swaminathan report has not been implemented. Farmers are already in debt and over 2 lakh farmers committed suicide in the past one year. These laws are the last nail on their coffin.”

Harbans also claims to be the first one to have come to the chowk for protesting. “I and my family came here about a week ago. Then, neighbours, passers-by and other people kept joining in. Now, it’s growing by leaps and bounds,” said Harbans.

Simarjeet Singh, another protester, said: “We are here for farmer rights alone. The government wants to give it a communal colour and this won’t be tolerated.”

Langar for protesters

Tinku, a migrant from UP who sets up Bombay Bhelpuri stall in Sector 26, came to Matka Chowk in support of famers. He distributes free ‘bhel’ to the protesters.

Owner of a neighbouring restaurant, Aja, Sector 9, Raj Kanwar Singh Bhangoo, has set up soup langar at the site.