Prolonged protest fails to dampen farmers'' spirits

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Ready for long haul

“We have different committees to manage protests at various places. The number of protesters has never gone down as farmers are well aware that it”s their own fight and they are prepared for a long haul.” — Gobinder Singh, BKU (Ugrahan) leader

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 14

The prolonged agitation against the new farm laws has failed to dampen the spirits of farmers. A majority of families of farmers have been sending their members to protest in New Delhi and at various places in the district.

“Our family has not skipped the protest even for a day. Either my daughter-in-law, my husband, my son or I go here. Not only ours, but there are many more families which are working round the clock for the success of the stir,” said Ranjit Kaur, a senior citizen, protesting in Sangrur.

Another protester Gurmeet Singh said earlier he had gone to take part in the protest in New Delhi, but had to return due to some health problem. Later, his elder son joined the agitation at the national capital. “After rest of some days, I started coming here with my younger son. It”s a long battle and we are prepared to fight till the end,” he said.

Satinder Singh, a farmer, said the number of family members of landless labourers had also increased at many places.

Farmers have been protesting at various places in Sangrur district, including Lehal Khurd, Kheri, Gurdaspura, Sangrur railway station and others, for the past more than 300 days. Leaders disclosed that even during the paddy transplantation when farmers were busy in fields, the number of protesters did not go down as women along with their children came out in large numbers.

“We have different committees to manage protests at various places. The number of protesters has never gone down as farmers are well aware that it”s their own fight and they are prepared for a long haul,” said Gobinder Singh, BKU (Ugrahan) leader from Sangrur.