BATHINDA: Braving inclement weather and intermittent rains, farmers from Punjab started moving towards Delhi on Wednesday. They were not disheartened when they were stopped from entering Haryana, saying it did not matter whether they protested in Delhi, Haryana or in Punjab as all that mattered was that the Union government heard their voice in the national capital even when they were protesting in Punjab.
The farmers were prepared for everything: For instance, a farmer took along his gearless scooter on his trolley to use wherever they are stopped. If the weather surprised them, the farmers were ready for that too — they used tarpaulin sheets as raincoats.
Throughout, to keep the spirit from sagging, the young farmers broke into revolutionary songs on ‘dafli’ (a percussion instrument). For their part, the older ones raised slogans against the Centre with such gusto that even youngsters were amused.
At Barnala and Badbar toll plazas, farmers headed towards Khanouri border with dhol beaters following them at a distance. “We are going for a tough battle. It does not matter whether we return triumphant or not, but what matters more is determination and an urge to fight a tough battle against the central government,” said young farmer Gurmukh Singh at Badbar toll plaza.
At Mehal Kalan toll plaza, elderly Harnek Singh said they felt it was their responsibility to fight against the farm laws. Meanwhile, SAD (Amritsar) activists held protests on railway tracks in Barnala for over an hour. They even raised Khalistan slogans. The protesters led by party’ state general secretary Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala dispersed later.