More farmers join stir at Singhu border

Tribune News Service

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Panipat, December 5

Farmers huddled in small groups playing cards over a hookah is a common sight at the Singhu border, where thousands of their brethren are protesting against the three controversial farm laws. Determined, they are holding the fort in chilly conditions.

The protest entered the ninth day on Saturday as the number of farmers rise by the day. Slowly and slowly, Haryana farmers are joining their counterparts from Punjab.

Scores of farmers, young and old, from nearby villages reach the dharna spot in the morning every day and return home in the evening.

Mahender Singh of Safidon said, “I, along with 50 of my village, have reached the dharna spot in solidarity with farmers. The participation of Haryana farmers is rising steadily.”

Manjeet of Karnal’s Chaugama village said scores of farmers from Ladwa, Babbain, Indri, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Yamunanagar reached the Singhu border on the morning of November 27 after breaching several barricades on the way.

“Punjab farmers had joined us during the Panipat night stay and doubled our strength. The protest gets local support. There is no dearth of essential items at the protest site,” he said, adding food for around 15,000 farmers protesting at the Ghazipur border in UP is sent from the Singhu border.

Farmers of Panipat’s Babbail village brought ration, juice, water, fruits and other items for the protesting farmers. One of them, Mahender Singh Ahlawat, said: “All 36 communities in the village support the protest. Villagers also collected money for the protesters.”

Sonepat’s Thana Khurd village resident Jagbir Singh, who brought vegetables and fruits for the farmers, said villagers collected donation and food items for the agitators. “There is anger against the Centre for enacting the farm laws. Every resident of my village wants to contribute to the protest. Donating essential items is one of the ways,” he said.

Mehar Singh of Kurukshetra said farmers not only from Punjab and Haryana, but other states such as UP, Rajasthan and MP had reached the border.