Shahabad farmer on fast since Jan 3
Nitish Sharma
Tribune News Service
Kurukshetra, January 18
Narender Singh Cheema, a 45-year-old farmer from Shahabad, has been observing fast in support of protesting farmers since January 3 near a bus stand here. He started with six-hour fast and increased the duration by half an hour every day. Today, Day 16 of his protest, he was on fast for more than 13 hours.
Sitting on a cot outside a tent where langar is served to farmers and others, Cheema said: “I will continue to fast until the three new farm laws are repealed. I appeal to everyone to support farmers, who have been protesting peacefully.”
Cheema has been getting support from his family, though his wife is a little worried because hunger strike has taken a toll on his health.
Meanwhile, the langar sewa by farmers from Punjab and Haryana have become the favourite spot of locals.
Vicky Madan, who has been monitoring the langar sewa, said: “We have been serving tea, bread pakoras, water, chapati and vegetables. Local farmers have been contributing dry ration and other essential items.”
Jagir Singh, a farmer from Kishangarh village, said: “The langar sewa was started by Punjab farmers. Later, they handed over the ‘sewa’ to us. Now, farmers of Shahabad and Punjab jointly serve langar.”
Caption: Narender Cheema (third from left) with langar volunteers in Kurukshetra. Tribune Photo
