Rohtak residents open purse strings

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, December 10

Local residents have not only been helping Punjab farmers at the Tikri border by providing them vegetables, fruit, milk and other food items, but extending them monetary assistance as well.

Residents of Garhi Bohar village have donated Rs 91,000 for the protesting farmers while many other individuals and social groups are lending financial aid daily.

“We have collected Rs 91,000 from villagers and are ready to donate more if need be. Punjab farmers are our guests and it is our responsibility to help them,” said Jugnu Nandal of Garhi Bohar village.

Three dharna spots had been set up on a 10-km stretch from the Jakhoda bypass to the Tikri border, with donations being received at the main dharna site at the border.

“People of Haryana are enthusiastically supporting them. They are supplying food items in sufficient quantities and donating money. We are getting between Rs 80,000 and Rs 1 lakh daily,” said Sukhjinder Singh, a farmer leader noting down donations at the Tikri border.

He pointed out that the donation was being spent on payment for the tent and meeting other expenses. A group from Punjab donated Rs 31,000 on Thursday, he added.

Puroshhotam Singh Gill of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) said they were not demanding donations, but people of Haryana were voluntarily donating money to strengthen the agitation. Every group of Punjab farmers had brought thousands of rupees to stay here for as long as the agitation went on, he added.

Joginder Ghasi Ram Nain, state president of the BKU, said many khaps and other social outfits had contacted them for donations, but they had been requested to provide food items instead.

Om Prakash Dhankar, president of the Dhankar khap, said all khaps of Haryana stood with Punjab farmers. He said they had been ensuring supply of food items to the Tikri border and were ready to donate money, if need be.