Farmers move gaining momentum after their latest diktat in Punjab
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
After an emotional appeal of Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait that has given a ‘fuel’ to farmers’ agitation which witnessed a fall in numbers following the Red Fort incident during the January 26 tractor parade, now a diktat by several panchayats in Punjab have started passing resolutions asking people to send one person from every village home to the dharnas at Delhi borders, to strengthen their position.
In a resolution passed by Wazidpur panchayat in Patiala district, ordered that “one villager from every house will go at Delhi borders. The resolution said that those not complying with the decision will be fined Rs 1,500 and if any mis-happening occurs, the whole village will bear the expenses.”
Similarly, Virk Khurd village panchayat in district Bathinda passed a resolution mandating that one villager from every house will go at Delhi borders and stay there for at least one week. The resolution said that those not complying with the decision will be fined Rs 1,500 and if a person refuses to pay the fine, village will boycott that person.
When asked a villager, what is the logic of this diktat, he said that “though we are regularly going to the borders since November 26, but this fresh announcement has been done to beat the rumours made by the media that after Republic Day episode morcha is about to end and people have started coming back. Actually, villagers who had gone to Delhi , especially for tractor parade, only they are coming back.”
Another villager said “this is a move to create pressure on the government and also to give a message to them that we don’t fear them at all. This chain will not break and this will send a strong message to the media also, who is spreading rumors”
“We are listening to news reports of protests at the Singhu border but that is not deterring us at all,” said an old villager.
January 30,2021
