Farmers make announcements from gurdwaras to solicit support for stir

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, September 25

Endless meetings, numerous teams interacting with villagers, distribution of brochures and non-stop announcements from gurdwaras, were some of the methods adopted to highlight how the farm Bills passed by Parliament would harm the farming community.

A lot of preparation was done for the success of Punjab bandh. A mass movement was started in the state and farmers had done immense work on the ground to reach out to every person who didn’t knew about the farm Bills, said protesters. Kirpal Singh (50), a member of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Doaba), said days have passed since he interacted with his family as he was busy forming strategy for Punjab bandh.

“A lot of hard work has gone into making Punjab bandh a big success. We are getting huge support from every sector. Our unity showed everyone that farmers are not alone,” he said.

Satnam Singh Sahni, spokesperson of the union, said for the last two days, a van with loudspeakers was sent to villages in remote areas to ensure that every person comes out in the support of farming community and join the mass movement.

“The most difficult task for organisations was to come on a common platform and fight in unison. This happened for the first time as every union has a different ideology. The Centre’s anti-farmer Bills made us one,” he said. In Nawanshahr, announcements were made from gurdwaras to support farmers.