With the farmers' planned tractor rally at Republic Day a day ahead, a farmer from Punjab grabbed netizens' attention after he drove a tractor in reverse gear from Barnala in Punjab to Singhu Border in Delhi. The stunt was a symbol for appealing to the Centre to 'reverse' the farm law.
Gurcharan Singh, who belongs to Rasoolpur Phawahi village, started his tractor journey on December 28 and reached Delhi on January 1. "I had to be cautious about other motorists on road, spend more on diesel and take extra care of the vehicle's clutch plate and brakes. My neck and legs ached for days. But it did not bother me. My whole task was to send a message to the government to put the laws in reverse gear" said the 50-year-old.
According to a Times of India report, he headed for the Delhi border with his friend Harbans Singh and a flag bearing religious symbols of Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, and Christians.
"I had made the first visit to Singhu in my car in mid-December. After spending a few days, I went back and decided to return on a tractor. This trip is because of a section of people calling us anti-nationals and Khalistan supporters. I will show that people from different religions support us and farmers respect all faiths. And a slur against us, is against all religions," he said.
A farmer drove his tractor from Punjab to Delhi in reverse gear. He said @narendramodi should also reverse (repeal) the anti-farmer laws.#BharatKaregaDelhiKooch pic.twitter.com/a0ESH9Zt9y
— Tractor2ਟਵਿੱਟਰ (@Tractor2twitr) January 24, 2021
Since November 2020, farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are protesting at the Delhi borders against the three farm laws that were passed by the government. The protests have entered the 61st day today.
Preparations for the rally are underway at Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri borders. The protesters have been allowed by the Delhi Police to take out the Tractor Parade on Republic Day 2021.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union Rakesh Tikait has said that the rally will take place at around 11 am. There will be two lanes. The rally will take place on NH 24 through Akshardham and Anand Vihar.