Farmers burn Central Govt's effigies to mark six months of stir

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, May 26

To mark six months of “farmers’ protest” (against the three controversial agricultural laws), being observed on the outskirts of the national capital, hundreds of farmers gathered here to burn effigies of the Central Government here on Wednesday.

Farmers under the banner of various farm outfits, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union ( Doaba, Kadiyan, Rajewal), Kirti Kisan Union, Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee, Mazdoor Ekta Sangh and others held protests at various sites in the district. Nearly 200 farmers under the banner of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rajewal also assembled outside the District Administration Office to burn effigies of Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah.

District president of the BKU Rajewal Amarjot Singh Jandiala said, “To observe Black Day, we took out a protest march in Jandiala-Samrai, Nakodar, Jandusingha, Jamshedpur and outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office. This is not just a protest but an indication to the Central Government that like other states, the BJP will be wiped out from Punjab. Farmers have been staying put at the Singhu and Tikri borders for nearly 190 days and the government is still not ready to revoke the three farm laws. We will continue our agitation.”

Besides, leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress also participated in the protest and supported farmers. Advocates also come out on the roads to observe Black Day and raised slogans against the Central Government near the court complex.

Despite the deployment of anti-riot teams and police personnel on roads, two hoots were given to Covid norms.

Following a call given by the Sanmukt Kisan Morch (SKM), a large number of farmers and labourers assembled at the Adampur T-point under the leadership of BKU, block general secretary, Gurbachan Singh Binpalke.

Farmers, who were not wearing a mask, raised slogans and threatened to intensify their protest in the coming days.

Kulwinder Singh Mashiana, a farmer, said, this was not just the protest against the farmers’ protest but also to condemn the shaking democratic structure of the country.

Support poured in on social media

From hoisting black flags on their rooftops to running a hashtag Black Day campaign, residents and supporters of the farmers’ protest marked the day digitally too. #BlackDay started trending on social media since morning. People posted their pictures on social media holding black flags and donning black attires.