Newlyweds hand over shagun to Tikri farmers

Sameer Singh

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Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 27

In a noble gesture, an NRI couple from Vancouver, Canada, who got married recently, donated the shagun amount of Rs 50,000 to the ongoing farmers’ agitation against three contentious farm laws at the Delhi-Tikri border.

Baljit Singh Gill, 35, who is in construction business in Canada and Manveer Kaur, 30, had tied nuptial knot on January 21 and decided already that they would donate the shagun amount collected during the marriage function.

Baljit, who hails from Uddat Saidewala village in Mansa district, along with wife and relatives went to the Tikri border and donated the amount to farm leaders. During his address, he exhorted everyone to contribute to the farmers’ movement.

Talking to The Tribune, Baljit said, “Our family has been involved in philanthropic activities in the past as well, we will come to India for some time and assist poor families in getting their daughters married. After holding successful protest rallies in Vancouver, I wanted to contribute my bit to the farmers’ movement here as well. So, instead of taking the shagun during the marriage, we had put up a box at the venue to donate money to the cause.”

Baljit, who has been financially assisting village and block-level units of farm unions in Mansa, said, “Many farmers have lost their lives, it’s high time that the governments shun its obdurate stance and accedes to the just demands of farmers and repeal these farm laws. I also urge the youth not to lose patience and support the movement whole-heartedly peacefully because their have been attempts to sabotage the movement with by misguided youth.”