Hoshiarpur, Jan 23 (UNI) Thousands of farmers on tractors, trailers and buses on Saturday left for Delhi to participate in the proposed tractor march on the Republic Day.

Flags and banners were seen on tractors, cars and buses carrying farmers, including women belonging to various farmers organisations including Azad Kisan Committee, BKU Doaba, Doaba Kisan Committee and Ganna Sangarsh Committee Randhawa Sugar Mill, to Delhi on the route.

Talking to UNI on his mobile phone BKU Doaba District President Sohan Singh Sahri said farmers on about 150 tractors and trailers had left for Delhi from his village under his leadership at about 1100 hrs Saturday.

He claimed that the number of tractors had surpassed 500 as more members had joined them on the way to Delhi. They took their lunch two kms ahead from Phagwara. On the nightfall, they would stay near a Dhaba etc, prepare langar (community kitchen) for the members accompanying them, take rest and then leave for Delhi to join their counterparts there.

Another farmer Gurdeep Singh Khun-Khun of Vatavaran Bachao Committee told that he had reached Delhi in the early hours Saturday. He claimed that thousands of farmers including women from his village reached Delhi alongwith him. He said a big tractor march from Lachowal Toll Plaza to Hoshiarpur would also be taken out on the Republic Day to lodge their protest.

According to official sources, around 1100 farmers had departed to Delhi up to afternoon. The number would rise to 2000 by evening. The number of male members is higher than female members.

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