Villages vow to rally behind protesters

Tribune Reporters
Fatehgarh Sahib/Bathinda, Jan 29

To resurrect the farmers’ agitation at the Singhu border and express solidarity with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), village panchayats of Fatehgarh Sahib have decided to put the agitation back on track.

The panchayats of Reona Bhola, Reona Niwan, Reona Ucha, Panjoli Kalan, Panjoli Khurd, Majra, Nalina, Nalini, Lattour Barkatpur, Buchra, Pola and various other villages held meetings and passed unanimous resolutions to participate in the dharna at the Singhu border. A caravan of 50 tractor-trailers laden with ration was flagged off for the Singhu border.

Nirmal Singh Reona, a farmer leader, said panchayats had decided that 20 persons from each village would proceed to the national capital and stay at the dharna site. After four days, another batch of 20 persons would replace them. The entire expenditure for the trip and the stay would be borne by the village panchyat.

Appealing to other village panchyats of the district to pass such resolutions, Reona said the farmers were determined to continue the agitation until the three agricultural laws were repealed. He stressed the farmers’ agitation would be further intensified. Farmer unions have now started mobilising support by holding meetings in villages of the Malwa region by exhorting farmers to reach the Tikri border in large numbers. Some panchayats have made it mandatory to send at least one member per family to the protest site at Delhi borders and those failing to do so would be liable to pay money.

At Nangal Kalan, one of the largest villages in Mansa, panchayat members have announced that at least one member per family has to take part in the agitation at Delhi borders and spend a minimum of seven days, if any family fails to do so then it has to pay Rs 1,500 as fund to the panchayat. Virk Khurd village in Bathinda has also made a similar announcement.

“Rumours were doing the rounds that the R-Day incident would mark the end of the agitation. Our decision will put an end to such rumours. We have made it mandatory for one member per family to visit Delhi sites and spend minimum 15 days there. Those failing to do so would be fined Rs 1,500,” said Manjit Kaur, Virk Khurd sarpanch.

Ram Singh Bhaini Bagha, president, BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) in Mansa, said: “Our spirits are not down and we will fight this battle till it reaches its logical end. Groups of farmers have already left to Delhi borders to join their farmer brothers.”

Sarup Singh, general secretary, BKU (Lakhowal) Bathinda unit, said: “While groups of farmers left for Tikri border, another group has also reached Ghazipur to support BKU (Tikait) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait as well.”