Driven by cause, it’s now or never for young farmers

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 25

Braving the chill and fog, thousands of farmers are on the road with only one destination in mind — Delhi — to participate in the January 26 tractor parade. Long tractor queues on the entire national highway run up to the national capital borders.

All through the route, people are seen showing flags, waving and even bursting crackers to boost the morale of the Delhi-bound farmers. Even at 11.30 pm, residents are seen standing alongside the Sonepat roads, some with candles while others waving at the passing farmers.

Enthusiasm of Mansimrat Singh Riar, a youth from Naina village in Patiala who travelled the entire Sunday night to reach the border, encapsulates what is the driving force behind the farmers’ agitation. With a farmer union’s flag flying high in front of his tractor, the music system on the vehicle plays songs from ‘Bhag Milkha Bhag’, a film on the life story of famous athlete Milkha Singh. The song “Zinda hai toh…” perfectly describes the farmer’s struggle against the three laws. “We are not on a picnic. We have left the comforts of our home and family members for a cause. The struggle is of principles. We will die or win this,” says Riar, who has been to the Delhi borders almost four times in the past over a month.

At Ambala, the cavalcade of tractors led by Riar stopped over at a dhaba for dinner. The dhaba owner refused to charge anything. “My friends and I are serving our farmer friends. It is our humble contribution,” says Depanshu Kambhoj who belong to Sanaur.

Near Panipat, a former Chief Engineer, JS Dullat, along with his friends, is on his way with ration and other items loaded in their contingent of 20 tractors. “I retired as an engineer but my veins have a farmer’s blood. This is the second time I am going to Delh,” he says.