Farmers’ jatha from Amritsar leaves for Singhu border to observe protest anniversary

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 24

A large jatha of farmers, under the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee left for Singhu border on hundreds of tractor-trailers after paying obeisance at the Darbar Sahib on Wednesday to observe the first anniversary of the ongoing protest against the farm laws.

On way to Delhi, the cavalcade was joined by hundreds of farmers at the Beas bridge. A 114-year-old farmer Makhan Singh from Kalerbala village also left for Delhi.

The farmer leaders said they would stay at Shahbad in Haryana for the night and reach Singhu by 1 pm on Thursday. Sarwan Singh Pandher, general secretary, KMSC, said: “We started after praying at the Golden Temple. We sought strength from the almighty to help us fight this war.”

He said the government’s decision to repeal the three laws was a good sign but many other issues including law for MSP, arrest of UP minister Ajay Mishra, and farmers’ concerns regarding the laws framed regarding pollution and proposed amendments in Electricity Act have still not been addressed.

Pandher said after completing the sowing of wheat, farmers were now free and would camp at Singhu till the outcome of the stir. He said one year of hardships have failed to dent the farmers’ spirit and they are as fresh and agile as they were on Day 1.

The farmer leaders of KMSC said the jatha which marched towards Delhi was from 200 villages in eight zones of the district and another jatha from 10 remaining zones would march towards Delhi on December 5.