Masihuzzama Ansari | India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI—A young cyclist drove 360 km from Hoshiarpur, Punjab, to Sighu on Haryana-Delhi border in solidarity with farmers protesting for repeal of three farm laws that is considered to be anti-farmer.
Farmers from all over the country have been demonstrating at different places on Delhi’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. for last eight days against the new agricultural laws.
Balraj Singh, who is a resident of Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, reached the farmer’s protest site at Singhu border to show solidarity with those who are protesting against the three agricultural laws.
Speaking to India Tomorrow, Balraj said, “I have come to Delhi to contribute to the struggle for farmers’ rights. If we don’t stand with the farmers today, what are we going to answer to our next generations? The government discriminates against farmers. We support the farmers’ demands in such a situation”.
Balraj said that besides engaged in farming, he also runs his business in Hoshiarpur but has left his work for a while to join the protest.
He said that some people in the government linking the farmers’ movement with Khalistani “is a government conspiracy” to undermine the farmers movement. “It is irresponsible on the part of government to fabricate such things against the farmers”, he said.
Stating that the government wants to debunk this movement to divert attention of the people. “The government’s intention is very clear: it is not with the farmers but with traders”, he alleged.
On being asked as to what will be the attitude of the supporters if the government does not consider the demand of the farmers, Balraj said, “ we will stand with the farmers if we have to sit for 6 months or a year on the road. Farmers will not return to their homes till their demands are met. I am sure the government will surrender to the government”.
The government and the farmers have held several round of talks but all the meetings have been inconclusive so far. The farmers have reiterated their demand for withdrawal of the law, but the government has not yet clarified its stand. Another round of talks are to be held today.
Leaders of agitating farmers say that the government wants to confuse the farmers by not taking any concrete decision while still keeping the farmers engaged in discussions on the issue.
Meanwhile, farmers have got the support of Punjab’s five-time chief minister Prakash Singh Badal who on Friday wrote to President of India Ramnath Kovind, returning his Padma Vibhushan award in solidarity with farmers. He called the three agricultural laws as Black Laws. Badal’s Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was a partner in NDA government at the centre headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, Badal’s party quit NDA after farmers began protest against the 3 farm laws.
Meanwhile, more farmers are reaching the protest sites at Singhu, Tikri borders between Haryana and Delhi and Ghazipur between UP and Delhi, in support of agitating farmers.
(The story was originally written in Hindi and was translated into English by Kashif Ahmad Faraz)
