Resolute farmers hold their ground

Ravinder Saini & Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, November 29

Thousands of Punjab farmers stayed put on the 10-km stretch between Jakhoda bypass in Bahadurgarh and Tikri border on the Rohtak-Delhi highway for the second consecutive day on Sunday. They said they would not move until the new farm laws were rolled back as they had enough ration to agitate for months.

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With tractor-trailers, buses and other vehicles of farmers parked on the highway, the district administration diverted traffic to alternative routes. The Bahadurgarh-Tikri border remained shut, with heavy police posse deployed on the spot.

“We have come from Punjab to fight a long battle against the government, which has enacted the three laws to ruin farmers. We are carrying out our movement peacefully and will not budge until our demands are met,” said a protester.

The Jhajjar administration made arrangements for mobile toilets and the district Red Cross started a medical facility for the protesters after pitching a tent near the dharna spot. Sanitation workers were deputed to ensure cleanliness of toilets.

The police called four companies of the Rapid Action Force, with a temporary police lines being established near the spot for the cops performing duty in two shifts. Three DSPs would remain on duty in each shift.

The local population was coming to support and help farmers while commuters were using routes through villages to reach their destinations in Delhi.

Sonepat: Farmers continued their protest at the Singhu border on NH-44 for the third consecutive day on Sunday. The farmers’ committee decided to stay put at the border till further directions.

The number of farmers at the spot was rising. Local farmers also started reaching the dharna spot. Thousands of vehicles were stuck in a long traffic jam.

Darshan Pal, working group member of the All India Kissan Sangharsh Coordination Committee and president of the Krantikari Kisan Union Punjab said they had decided to continue the protest at the Singhu and Tikri borders.

Some farmers from Uttarakhand, who had reached the Burari ground in Delhi, came to this location, he said. Farmers from UP had reached the border and were staging a dharna, he added.

Jagmohan Singh, state general secretary of the BKU (Dakaunda), said farmers had come to Delhi to fight for their rights and would not move back till the Centre revoked the three farm laws.

“We are prepared to stay here for a long time if we are not heard or our demands are not met,” said Malkeet Singh of Hoshiarpur.

“Farming is our livelihood and we are sitting here in the chill at night to save our livelihood,” said 72-year-old Gurmeet Singh of Amritsar.

SIDELIGHTS

SAD MLA thrashed at Singhu border

Panipat: Farmers on Sunday thrashed a SAD MLA from Punjab who reached the Singhu border to extend support to them. However, the security personnel intervened and took away the MLA from the site. Farmer leader Surjeet Singh Phool said that no political leader was allowed to address the farmers from the stage.

Covid test counter at protest site

Sonepat: The district administration has established health counters and Covid test centre near Singhu border for the farmers. DC, Sonepat, Shyam Lal Poonia said masks had been distributed to 5,500 farmers. Medicines have been distributed to 6,400 farmers.

Arhtiyas’ outfit extends support

Karnal: The Haryana Arhtiyas Association has decided to observe a day’s strike on Tuesday in support of farmers. Arhtiyas will keep their shops shut and not buy paddy that day. Rajnish Chaudhary, working president of the outfit, said: “The Centre should address farmers’ concerns.”