Farmers at Tikri, Shahjahanpur border usher in New Year in style

Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, January 1

Farmers camping at Tikri (Delhi) and Shahjahanpur (Rajasthan) borders welcomed 2021in a different style.

Punjab farmers organised a special langer at Tikri that served special dishes such as halwa and jalebi for residents of Delhi and Haryana, who were special invitees to the protest site. At the Shahjahanpur border, young protesters danced to anti-government protest music coming from speakers installed in tractor-trolleys late on Thursday night. 

Significantly, the celebration forced the police personnel of both states---Haryana and Rajastha---deployed at the border to swing into action late in the night. 

“Some minutes before the new year, a group of young protesters suddenly took out tractor-march at the border to celebrate the occasion and started raising anti-government slogans. Thereafter, several youths danced to songs from the DJ (speakers) fitted in tractprs by playing Haryanvi songs ‘Modi ji thaari taup kadai sa hum Delhi aage’ and punjabi song ‘Pinda-pinda vich paro trolley kaam nahi chalna canter naal’,” said Ashok Arya, a leader of All India Kisan Sabha.

Arya said more than 100 farmers broke the barricades in the day on Thursday, prompting the action. Police remained on their toes until celebrations ended, he said.  

“We are upset over the martyrdom of more than 40 farmers during the ongoing protest but a special langer at Tikri border was organised on the first day of 2021 for which people of Delhi and nearby area of Haryana were invited,” said Pargat Singh, a farmer leader, adding that the battle had reached at decisive stage and they were confident of their victory. 

Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda also visited the protest site at Tikri. He announced he had cancelled his birthday celebrations on January 4  in solidarity with famrers.