Farmers raise slogans as they depart for Delhi to participate in the protest, in Amritsar. vishal kumar

Tribune News Service

Sangrur/Amritsar, Dec 25

Hundreds of ex-servicemen under the banner of the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Security Guards’ Union on Friday left for the Delhi border in various vehicles from Mehla chowk town of the district to support the farmers’ stir.

“We also belong to the families of farmers and are going to Delhi to support our brothers in their fight against the Central farm laws. We will stay there and offer all possible help,” said Pargat Singh, general secretary of the union.

Local BKU Ugrahan leader Harjeet Singh, who is also an ex-serviceman, said more of us would leave for Delhi in coming days. “Today, the first batch has left while many more are preparing to leave as we know it well that to save our country, we must support farmers,” Harjeet added.

Meanwhile, another batch of farmers from Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran on Friday headed for the Kundli border.

Under the banner of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), at least 25 tractor-trailers left from Amritsar’s Golden Gate under the leadership of Sawinder Singh Chautala, Sukhwinder Singh Sabhra, Germanjit Singh Badala and Jasbir Singh Piddi.

KMSC activist Gurbachan Singh Chhaba said the Centre was adamant on harassing the farm community while keeping the interest of their corporate associates.

“Today, the third batch of farmers left to join the stir at the Delhi border from Jalandhar, Sri Hargobindpur and Hoshiarpur. We will not bow before the Modi government and nothing except the revoking of the contentious farm laws will be accepted. The Centre has also been wrongly propagating that farmers have agreed to the conditions of the farm laws. These tactics are being adopted to scuttle the protest, but we will not let it happen,” he added.

In Bathinda, the Punjab Taxi Union announced they would not charge any rent from farmers wishing to join the protest in Delhi.