JIND: Farmers protesting against the Centre’s three contentious agri-marketing laws at Tikri border in Bahadurgarh and at Singhu border in Sonipat district have got complete support from the locals and residents of other Haryana districts.
From fresh supply of milk and vegetables, to water and all basic necessities, the farmers have been a regular supply from locals at border points and from residents of many Haryana districts.
Sukhpreet Kaur from Punjab’s Faridkot district, who is camping with farmers, has several good memories to take back home. Sukhpreet revealed that Manisha, a Rohtak resident, helped her deal with issues that she can't discuss with her male counterparts sitting in protest at the Tikri Border. “Manisha helped me with everything, from using the bathroom frequently to staying at night safely. Right now, we are camping at Tikri border where male farmers are sleeping in trolleys and women sleep in a shop nearby,” Sukhpreet told TOI.
Manisha, a social activist, said she spoke to their local contacts after witnessing the issues of young women like Sukhpreet Kaur and arranged a shop for their safety.
“Half-a-dozen girls stay in the office at night and locals here arranged food, water and blankets for them,” Manisha added.
STANDING WITH FARMERS
Roadside eateries offer free food
Vijay Kumar, a resident of Fatehabad district, travelled more than 150km on his tractor attached with a water tanker to provide free water to the protesting farmers. “I came to Tikri border with the Punjab farmers three days ago. About 800-1,000 farmers fill up their containers from the tanker daily. After the tanker gets empty, I refill it from a local tubewell in Bahadurgarh,” he claimed.
Charanjit Singh Majithia, based in Bahadurgarh city, said local factories on the highway have thrown open their toilets and bathrooms for farmers so that they can continue their protest smoothly.
Amit Kaur, an aged woman from Barnala, said women protesters use local bathrooms at petrol pumps that are opened for them round-the-clock. Local roadside restaurants have put up banners offering free hot cooked meals for farmers protesting in Bahadurgarh.
Contributions of foodstuff are pouring in from other parts of the state. Ujhana village of Narwana town has sent 5,000 litres of milk for protesters at Tikri border already – 2,500 litres on Sunday and 2,500 on Monday. The video of milk supply has gone viral on social media and is being praised by netizens across the state. People have stopped selling milk and are sending aid to farmers instead. Some Jind villages, including Pauli, have collected donations to send necessary items and food to the protesters at the border points. “People are coming forward by themselves to extend their support. Whoever owns buffaloes is sending milk. We have decided to stand with the farmers in this critical situation,” Satbir Singh, sarpanch of Ujhana village, said.