Patiala residents back farmers’ stir

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 10

The opposition to the Centre’s farm laws is no more limited to the rural population. Hundreds of city residents, including women and children, today came out in support of the protesting farmers and held a huge rally in the Urban Estate and the adjoining areas.

Raising slogans ‘Kisan Ekta Zindabad’ and ‘Repeal farm laws’, the protesters said they wanted to send out a message that not only farmers or people from rural areas but also people like them were against the new laws.

In fact, the residents of the Urban Estate areas have formed a committee called “Kisan Mazdoor Karamchari Sangarsh.”

Dr Balwinder Singh Sohal, member, Kisan Mazdoor Karamchari Sangarsh, said critics often targeted the farmers’ protest by saying that it was limited to farmers only. “We wanted to show that we (urban residents) are with the protesting farmers. We will work and protest as the second line of defence in the agitation.”

Holding flags of kisan unions, women marched and raised slogans against the Modi government.

Amarjit Singh Waraich, resident, Urban Estate, Phase 2, said they were taking the protest to urban areas of the city so as to join get more support for the ongoing famers’ stir in Punjab. He said: “The protest will continue in the Urban Estate and the adjoining areas until the laws are repealed. People from urban areas have joined in the protest in large numbers.”

Carrying banners of “No farmers, No food”, many youngster are often seen staging protests at Fountain Chowk, Leela Bhawan Chowk, the YPS roundabout and 22 Number Phatak.