Ludhiana: Farmers and Civil Society members observed a day-long hunger strike in support of the farmers’ agitation at various places in Ludhiana district on Saturday. Seeking to affirm the peaceful nature of the protests, the farmer leaders had said that hunger strike coincided with the death anniversary of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi.
The farmer leaders and Civil Society group members said that in Jagraon area, a protest sit-in-cum-hunger strike was held near Hari Singh Nalwa Chowk on Raikot Mullanpur road and on Barnala road in Raikot area, whereas similar functions were held at Railway Park in Jagraon and at toll plaza near Chowkiman. They added that such protest-cum-hunger strike was held at Rakba toll plaza.
In Ludhiana city, farmers’ organisation and Civil Society group held a protest-cum-hunger strike near a popular mall on Ferozepur road and afterwards near a petrol pump on Dugri road. There were reports of protest at Samrala town, where protesters sat on a hunger strike on the road. They also sat on protest near a toll plaza on Ludhiana-Chandigarh road as well. Meanwhile, protesters sat on a hunger strike at Khanna railway station as well.
Avtar Singh, a protester at Gulal toll plaza, said that even as the morale of protesters had been affected because of the happenings on Republic Day, but after that there was more enthusiasm among the farmers. He added that farmers wouldn’t rest till the Union government repeals the three farming laws passed by it.
In a related development, even as the BJP youth wing was to take out Tiranga Rally in Ludhiana, they couldn’t do so as those supporting the farmers protested against the party members. The police had to face tough time as it tried to prevent the situation from turning ugly.