JIND: Farmers, along with women and khap members held a protest in Jind on Thursday by playing a folk musical instrument in front of a buffalo (symbolising the saying - Bhains ke aage been bajana, conveying the futility of making a person understand a concept he has no ability to grasp). Farmers said they held the protest to urge the Centre to repeal the three farm laws promptly.
Many women and members of the Sarvajatiya Khap gathered at Uchana town, represented by Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala and staged a protest. They raised slogans against the government and sought relief for farmers demonstrating at the Delhi borders for the past 15 days. The protesters expressed their annoyance with deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, senior BJP leader and former union minister Birender Singh and Hisar MP Brijendra Singh for their silence on the issue.
Paras Sheokand, vice-president, Daran Khap, said, “Earlier, we announced social boycott of deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala, Birender Singh and other Bangar leaders who always sought votes in the name of farmers’ welfare but didn’t do anything. Opposition to these leaders will continue till they resign from their post and join the farmers’ protest. Today, we sent a message to the Prime Minister that it would be better to listen to farmers’ demands at the earliest as we have planned for a long fight. The PM should not be so adamant.”
Azad Singh Palwa, general secretary, Sarvajatiya Daran khap said, “We want to send a message to the Prime Minister that this is a democracy and he will have to listen to our voice. He should not act like a dictator. If he feels farmers will go back after some time, he should forget it. If our leaders, who are in the committee to talk with the government, order us, routes from Haryana will also be blocked soon. We will ensure a free toll on December 12 and gherao Jind mini secretariat on December 14 to press our demands.”
Meanwhile, women protesters said they are taking care of the fields as the men stage protests.
“Male farmers are heading to Delhi borders to take on the government and we are looking after the fields. We have no problems working in the field but have sent men to win the fight. We will not allow any leaders to enter the area until demands are met,” Sudesh Devi, a woman protester from Uchana, said.