Doaba farmers all set for R-Day tractor march

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 15

Almost every resident in Phagwara and Jalandhar showed solidarity with the farmers by raising hands and shouting ‘Kisan Ekta zindabad’ when they saw a huge procession of farmers sitting on tractors moving slowly, spreading the word about the movement and against three farm laws.

In what was described by residents as “something never seen before,” the march organised by Bhartiya Kisan Union (Doaba) started in the morning from Phagwara Grain Market and culminated in the Rama Mandi area, Jalandhar. Farmers, maximum of them youngsters, raised slogans against PM Narendra Modi and the farm laws on the way.

“The support for us was palpable and residents expressed it through various gestures. Some saluted us, others gave us thumbs up and raised their hands as we marched past. It was a great feeling,” said a farmer.

BKU (Doaba) spokesperson Satnam Sahni said nearly 6,000 tractors were there and almost 10,000 farmers took part in the march.

“The motive was to let the Centre know that this movement is not only limited to Singhu and Tikri borders, but extends to Punjab as well,” he said. Sahni, who has been at the Singhu border for more than a month, said he had come here last night to motivate people to join them in the movement. “I have seen a tremendous response of the people here,” he said.

Kirpal Singh Moosapur, from BKU (Doaba) said the movement here garnered huge response from the youth. “Now we know that we are not alone in this fight,” he said. For January 26 tractor rally, farmers from Doaba have decided to leave on January 23. In Nawanshahr too, the Kirti Kisan Union carried out a march that started from Khatkar Kalan in Nawanshahr. Farmers on around 200 tractors took part in the march. Union member Tarsem Singh Bains said it was a rehearsal for January 26.

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