BKU’s Ugrahan dares Delhi Police to enter Punjab to arrest accused

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 21

Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan on Sunday dared Delhi Police to enter Punjab for arresting the Red Fort violence accused.

At a massive show of strength by the farmers and farm labourers mainly from the Malwa region of Punjab at Barnala town, he said said the ongoing farmers' protest was the first time that people of India had mounted a challenge to what he claims is a "fascist and communal government".

Ugrahan was addressing a ‘kisan mazdoor rally’, which saw thousands gather at Barnala’s grain market against the Centre’s three controversial farm laws on Sunday, 

Organised by the BKU (Ugrahan) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, was one of the largest gatherings held in the state since the farmers' protest moved out of the state to the borders of Delhi. The union had said it expected over two lakh farmers to attend the rally.

Also read: All set for mega rally against farm laws in Barnala today

“One person needs at least four square feet, so we have laid mats on nine lakh square feet,” Sukhdev Singh Kokri, general secretary of the union, had said on Saturday.

Given the scale of their event, BKU said it had deputed around 300 volunteers for the smooth movement of vehicles and parking, and 400 more volunteers for securing the stage and serving water and tea to those attending the rally. 

Donning yellow dupatta to signify solidarity, tens of thousands of women too participated.

Sufi singer Kanwar Garewal enthralled the gathering.

Organisers claimed that over two lakh farmers attended the rally.

Besides Ugrahan, leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha comprising Balbir Singh Rajewal, Ruldu Singh Mansa and Sukhdev Singh too participated in the rally.

Expressing serious concern over the threat to the state’s agriculture as a result of the “disruption caused by the three new farm laws”, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure urgent resolution of the ongoing farm unrest by the Centre “to the satisfaction of the protesting farmers by addressing their grievances”.

Calling for the fullest respect for the ‘annadaata’, the Chief Minister, through his speech for the virtual meeting of the Niti Aayog, reiterated his government’s stand that agriculture is a state subject and law-making on it should be left to the states in the true spirit of “cooperative federalism” enshrined in the Constitution.

In this context, he pointed to the state amendments already passed to the central legislations by the state Assembly in October 2020. — With IANS inputs

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