Confident of resolution, farmers gear up for celebrations at Tikri

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, December 4

Notwithstanding the ongoing stalemate between the Centre and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) over the pending demands, farmers camping at Tikri are buying crackers and potash powder from surrounding areas to make their journey back home memorable.

They are confident that the government would soon accept the pending demands too. “Many farmers have already bought crackers and potash powder to celebrate the victory. Since crackers are costlier hence a majority of them are buying potash powder from Bahadurgarh. We are ready to celebrate and are eagerly waiting for the SKM decision,” said Harminder Singh, a protester, adding that the government was likely to adopt a soft stance on their pending demands before the next SKM meeting on December 7.

Still united & enthusiastic

Farmers are still united and full of enthusiasm as they were at the beginning of the stir. So the government should accept our pending demands without any further delay. —Baldev Singh, Protester

Another farmer said a small quantity of potash powder along with a gun-like device was being sold for Rs 400 in Bahadurgarh. “Also, the potash powder is more suitable as it not only makes a loud noise but also prevents the possibility of any fire incident. We will use it during the victory procession en route to Punjab from Tikri.”

Gurpreet Singh of Sangrur, however, said a large number of farmers carrying flowers and crackers would reach Tikri to be a part of the victory procession soon after the SKM decision to return home.

Meanwhile, to show their strength and put pressure on the Centre and the state to accept their pending demands, farmers took out a tractor march on a stretch of 10 km from Kisan Chowk in Bahadurgarh to Tikri. “The march was aimed at making the Centre realise that we are still united... hence it should accept our pending demands without testing our patience and strength,” said Baldev Singh, another protester.