Will seal Delhi if talks fail, warn farmers

Ravinder Saini & Mukesh Tandon
Tribune News Service
Jhajjar, December 3

Farmers camping at the Tikri border spent the day waiting for the outcome of the meeting of their top leaders with the Centre and contemplating the next course of action to seal all nearby entry points to Delhi if the meeting remained inconclusive.

Punjab farmers discussed the issue with local leaders, who stressed taking the help of people residing nearby to execute the plan in an effective manner.

“We will not only seal all entry points to Delhi, but also cut off supply of milk and vegetables from Haryana to the national capital. We have done our homework and are waiting for directions from our top leaders,” said Joginder Ghasi Ram Nain, state president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union.

Nain said people residing in villages near the Delhi border and khap leaders were supporting the agitation and they would not face any issue in sealing the borders.

“We will have no option but to seal all entry points to Delhi if the government does not give any positive response. The plan has been discussed with Haryana leaders, who are making preparations in this regard,” said Purushottam Singh Gill of the BKU (Lakhowal).

Vikas Sisar, state president of the Bhartiya Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, said 17 farmers’ organisations in Haryana were fully equipped to seal Delhi if Thursday’s meeting failed to bear any fruitful result.

A team of medical practitioners from Bathinda led by Dr Mewa Singh Barar distributed free medicines among the farmers. Aam Aadmi Party activists from Mundka in Delhi organised a langar for the farmers.

Sonepat: Farmers from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh reached the Singhu border on Thursday in support of the ongoing protest.

Members of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh Haryana and Haryana Power Engineers Association, Bhim Army president Chandrashekhar Azad and Nihang Sikh groups led by Baba Balbir Singh reached the inter-state border to extend support.

Amanjot Singh (67) of Sangrur said they would stay put till their demands were met. He said they had no problem in staying put as they had come with ration for six months and langar was available at adjoining gurdwaras.

Mahenderjeet Singh of Jalandhar said they had come to save their livelihood and had been staying on the roadside for the past seven days for their rights.

Gurnam Singh of Bathinda said the government should hear their demands as these were not for farmers alone, but for the common man as well.

“The cold wave cannot deter us from our mission as we have been irrigating our fields in bone-chilling nights,” said Simranjeet Singh of a Patiala village.

Sidelights

Take back cases: JJP

Chandigarh: The Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) on Thursday demanded the withdrawal of cases registered against farmers during the ongoing farmers' agitation. Addressing a press conference, JJP leader Digvijay Chautala said the state government must take back the cases. He said a delegation of the party would meet the Chief Minister and Home Minister in this regard.

ZP member quits

Hisar: A Zila Parishad member from ward 5 in Sirsa district, Sunita Jhorar, on Thursday resigned from her post in support of the farmers' protest. The Zila Parishad (ZP) member submitted her resignation to the deputy commissioner and urged the Centre to accept the demands of the farmers.

Khaps back agitators

Sonepat: Members of the Antil khap arrived at Singhu border with 25 trolleys filled with dry ration. Hawa Singh Pehalwan, khap chief, said they would give all possible support to the farmers. Surender Dahiya, chief of Dahiya khap, said they had urged the government to resolve the issues athe earliest. Ashok Saroha, spokesperson of Saroha khap, said their president Randhir Singh had decided to support the protesters.