Post harvest season, Punjab leaders to strengthen protest

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Sonepat, May 23

Farm leaders of Punjab have now decided to strengthen the protest at the Delhi borders after the harvesting season ends in the region. They have decided to launch a special campaign to increase the number of farmers at the borders from May 28 to June 10.

Notably, the crowds gathered at the Singhu border had been thin due to the harvesting season in Punjab and Haryana. The number of farmers in each trolley and tents was now 3-4 as compared to 10-15 earlier.

As per sources, the farmers’ strength was at peak in December and January but it reduced after the January 26 violence in Delhi. The reducing number of protesters at borders had raised concern about the movement.

Now, Punjab farm leaders held a meeting and decided to intensify the movement again at the Delhi borders, especially Singhu and Tikri.

All the unions have been asked to bring groups of farmers at the Delhi borders and even leaders of all 32 unions have been assigned their duties. Even the unions have fixed the number of farmers to be brought to the Delhi borders and even the days have been fixed according to the schedule, said Harinder Singh Lakhowal, general secretary, BKU (Lakhowal).

Maximum senior farm leaders of Punjab unions have moved to the state to prepare for a successful protest on May 26 and the special campaign, he added.

We have also decided that a lot of farmers will not be brought at the borders due to the pandemic but the number in each trolley will be increased from 3-4 to 7-8, Lakhowal claimed.

Meanwhile, Yogender Yadav, member, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, said it was a unanimous decision of the SKM to strengthen the agitation at the Delhi borders again keeping in view the Covid protocols.