SIALKA (AMRITSAR)/ BATHINDA: Groups of farmers from different districts of Punjab are leaving for protest sites at Delhi border to keep the agitation going strong. A large number of farmers are leaving for the sites as many protesters, who have been camping in protest for over a fortnight, are returning home to fulfill their work and family commitments.
Hundreds of activists have already left for Delhi border on Wednesday and Thursday from Mansa, Bathinda, Barnala and Sangrur districts. Two buses full of arhityas (commission agents) headed for Delhi on Thursday from Sangrur. A large number of jathas will leave for Delhi from Amritsar on Friday after paying obeisance at Golden Temple.
Rattan Singh, general secretary of Border Area Sangarash Committee and in charge of Attari, Majitha and Jandiala assembly constituencies, said a group of nearly 100 farmers returned from Delhi on Thursday. “Everybody has commitments to meet but at the same time farmers struggle is important so we have decided to rotate the struggle duties,” he said.
Asked about the cost of sending a group of protesters to Delhi border, he said that diesel worth Rs 15,000-Rs 18,000 was spent on a round trip to Delhi on a tractor trolley. A bus trip donated by people costs around Rs 19,000-Rs 21,000. However, a hired bus costs around Rs 45,000-Rs 50,000 return trip within a week in addition to Rs 500 per day to the driver.
“We are happy that people from all walks of life are voluntarily giving donations for the farmer agitation,” he said.
Although farmers are worried about the long-drawn struggle, their optimism about the future is very strong. “We are sure that farmers will win and will force the central government to repeal the three laws, but we also know that our opponent (pointing towards PM Narendra Modi) is a very tough nut and hard to crack. We pray that our brothers at Delhi come out as victorious,” said Gurmukh Singh sitting at Barnala Railway Station.
“We believe that the battle with the central government will be a long drawn one so we have decided to send a large number of farmers to join the struggle at Delhi,” vice-president of Jamhuri Kisan Sabha Rattan Singh Ajnala told TOI on Friday.
Protester Karnail Singh, sitting at Lehra Bega toll plaza near Bathinda, said, “Our fight is against is very tough opponent and we have to defeat him at any cost for this cause of millions of farmers from across the country. We know we will have to face so many hardships for this and we are ready to face any eventuality.” Elderly Satbir Kaur said she was doing whatever possible for her farmer brothers and sons fighting for their survival. “Earlier, I gave 20 kg of wheat flour and Rs 500. Today, I gave another 10 kilograms of wheat and 20 kg of different cereals.”