BATHINDA/AMRITSAR: Nineteen days into the Delhi border protests against the three central agri laws, the number of farmers from Punjab heading for the national capital is continuing to rise, said a source in the state police.
Data showed that 7,500-8,000 persons have been moving from Punjab to Delhi through Shambhu, Khanouri, Sardulgarh and Dabwali borders daily over the past two-three days, against 3,500-4,000 persons coming back, the source said. Some are even reaching Delhi for a “taste of adventure,” to join the stir as well as have a feel of the national capital and experience rides on the Metro and look for a chance to be seen on television news channels.
On an average, every day, 5,000-5,500 persons headed for Delhi are crossing Shambhu border, whereas about 3,000 persons are crossing Khanouri or Dabwali borders, said the police source. More people are going from the Malwa region of Punjab, where mobilisation is stronger. The source added an estimate that showed that over 65,000 people from Punjab were on the Delhi borders.
Rattan Singh Ajnala of the Border Area Sangharsh Committee told TOI on Monday that they did not have to “convince” farmers to join them at Delhi borders. In villages like Lahorimal and Hoshiarnagar, farmers’ committees constituted to collect funds and maintain accounts have surplus deposits of over Rs 1 lakh each for expenditure on sending jathas to Delhi.