LUDHIANA: Some more villages in Ludhiana district have passed resolutions to send their residents to the farmers’ agitation site on Delhi borders. Convoys of vehicles have been leaving for Delhi borders in the past few days.
Mushkabad and Samaspur had recently passed resolutions to send villagers to dharna site on a regular basis. Now more villages, including Pabbiyan, Akhara of Jagraon and Khirniyan, Kadoon, Rupalon, and Ghumadi in Khanna, have resolved to send their men.
“We held a meeting of villagers and decided to send about 10 villagers every five days. When they return, the next group will go. We also decided to collect Rs 500 per general family and Rs 100 and Rs 200 from Scheduled Caste and Backward Class families. If the latter cannot pay, they may not. If a villager is unable to go once, we will give him second chance and if he still doesn’t go then he will have to pay an additional Rs 1,500. With the money we collect, we will buy ration and send it with the groups,” said Parminder Singh, sarpanch of Kaddon village.
Heads of the villages said they had to pass such resolutions on the insistence of villagers. “There is enthusiasm among villagers to go to the dharna sites to support farmers. We called a meeting of villagers to chalk out plans and discuss the penalty,” said Sarabjit Singh, sarpanch of Khirniyan village in Machhiwara block.
A village in Samrala also passed a similar resolution. “We have decided that six members from the village will go to the protest site for a week and then another group will replace them. If a family doesn’t send a member, then a penalty of Rs 2,500 will be imposed on them,” said Gurjit Kaur, sarpanch of Rupaloon village. She said already 10 farmers from the village were at the site.
In Jagraon, too, many villages are following suit. “Jathas are going from every village, and our preparations are in full swing. Everyone has contributed towards it. There are around 50-60 persons from our village at the spot and they say there is no disturbance there. From every home, one member has to go to Delhi. Eight persons left the village at 8am on Sunday. If a member from any family doesn’t go, a penalty of Rs 2,500 will be imposed. Also if anyone, who after getting his name registered, refuses to go, Rs 3,000 fine will be imposed and his account with the Cooperative Society will be closed,” announced a Akhara villager in a large gathering.
Farmers’ organization leaders said there was an overwhelming response from the farmers to the call for Delhi borders to support the agitation.
“About 10 villages in Khanna and Amloh have passed resolutions to send villagers to the dharna site. Villagers from Baalon, Salaudi, Rajewal, Panjrooka, Issanpur, Roran Kalan, Roran Khurd, Chakohi, Ekolahi, Ekolaha, Pagla Neecha, Goslaan, Goh, Nawan Pind Ramgarh, Manupur, Malakpur, Padhi, Kotla Ajner, Ratanheri, Boothgarh, Smailpur will be leaving for Delhi borders in a day or two and many have already left. On Sunday, a convoy of 20 cars left from Khanna. On Monday, we will be sending 100 cars from Khanna at 8am,” said BKU (Punjab) leader Rajinder Benipal. “We are getting great support. The government played its tricks, but now they will give up. They will have to repeal the anti-farmers’ laws,” he added.