BKU-Ugrahan comes out in support of protesting farm labourers, holds langar in Patiala

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 11

To strengthen their bond with farm labourers, the Bhartiya Kisan Union, Ugrahan, today organised ‘langar’ (community kitchen) for thousands of farm labourers, who had been protesting for the last three days at the PUDA ground in the city.

Farmers said they stood shoulder to shoulder with labourers in their fight against the government for unmet demands. Farmers not only served langar to protesting labourers, but also washed dishes. Notably, farm labourers, a majority of whom belong to the Dalit community, have frequently clashed with farmers over contract of one third of the common panchayat land in villages.

Farmers in some villages have even passed resolutions of capping labour charges.

Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president, Bharat Kisan Union (BKU) Ugrahan, said there was a generation-old bond with farm labourers. “Both, farmers and labourers can’t survive without each other. They (farmers) have always been supported by labourers in their ongoing agitation against the three contentious farm laws. Therefore, it was our duty to support them.”

When asked about the issue of one third common panchayat land for Dalits, he said, “Dalits should get their rights guaranteed by the constitution. I also appeal to farmers to support farm labourers on every aspect.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of labourers held a protest march on the concluding day of the three-day protest in the city on Wednesday. Labourers marched towards the Chief Minister’s residence. However, they were stopped near the YPS roundabout by the heavy police force. The protesters called off their stir after they were given a written assurance of their meeting with Cabinet Minister Brahm Mohindra on August 18. The protesters announced that they would hold a night long protest outside residences of ministers between September 1 and 3.