Elated at farm laws repeal, some protesters head home

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 30

Elated over repeal of the three farm laws by Parliament, farmers are eager to return home and share their joy with families. While some have already left, others have packed their bags after having protested at the Delhi border for the past over a year.

Gurdeep Singh (35), a resident of Gurdaspur, while crossing the Jalandhar-Amritsar highway with over two dozen protesters on a tractor-trailer said: “Finally, our resilience and the sacrifice of those who lost their lives during the protest paid off.”

Will return if other demands not met

On Monday, 50-60 tractor-trailers started their journey back home. We will return if our remaining demands aren’t accepted. — Toni Singh, protester

Hours after Parliament scrapped the laws on the first day of the winter session, farmers at Singhu and Tikri borders started preparations to head back home. Toni Singh, a former kabaddi player, who had been managing the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) stage since the start of the stir and building makeshift gyms and kitchens, said: “Though some of our demands are pending, we are happy that the laws have been repealed. The farmers have started packing their belongings and tents pitched at the venues.”

Kunwar Sartaj Singh, district leader of the Azad Kisan Sangharsh Committee, however, said only a handful of supporters were heading home. BKU (Doaba) president Satnam Singh Sahni said the decision on vacating the protest sites would be announced after the December 1 meeting.