In farmers’ support, Baisakhi celebrated at Chandigarh's Matka Chowk

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 13

This year, Baisakhi celebrations stepped beyond the traditional places of worship onto the dividers facing Matka Chowk.

Holding flags of farmer unions and Tiranga, many people thronged the chowk’s dividers, which have now become a protest site for city’s urban and rural dwellers who are in favour of farmers and against the new agro-market laws.

On Baisakhi, people sang folk songs and recited poetry based on agriculture and Baisakhi. Sikh prayers were offered too.

Rajwinder, a protester, said, “We staged this protest with Baisakhi celebrations on the call of Samyukt Kisan Morcha. As Baisakhi is a farmers’ (harvest) festival. It is part of both agriculture and culture.”

In the evening, for over three months now, members of pro-farmer groups like Kirti Kisan Forum, Naujawan Kisan Ekta and Farmers Welfare Society, along with members of civil society, gather at Matka Chowk to protest the new farm laws.

Many people rode bicycles to reach the venue.

“I’m here because of the older people, especially Babaji, an elderly, baptised Sikh man, who was reportedly harassed by the cops,” Said Darshan Singh.

Another cyclist, Jashandeep joined in: “Also, we have come in support of the farmers protesting near Delhi borders. If they can sit there for days and months, we can certainly come here for two hours.”