Gathering of farmers at rally ground, Sector 25, Chandigarh.
Thousands of farmers attend Mahapanchayat in Chandigarh
Harshabab Sidhu
Chandigarh, February 20, 2021:
The ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ held in the city today witnessed the massive response of the people. Thousands of farmers from the different corners of Punjab and Haryana took part in the mahapanchayat, held in Sector 25 rally ground here to support the on-going agitation of farmers. From children to elders, the participants chanted slogans against the central government by holding flags in their hands. Three prominent leaders of farmer unions, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Ruldu Singh Mansa, and Gurnam Singh Chaduni addressed the people from the stage and charged them with their energetic speeches. Punjabi singers, Harf Cheema, Gurjazz, and Karamjit Anmol also showed their support by attending the rally.
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Speaking from the stage, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan), said, “The motive of this mahapanchayat is to appeal to the people of villages as well as cities to participate maximum in the Delhi morcha. For the last few days, rumors are being spread that the agitation of farmers at Delhi borders is weakening and the farmers are returning to their homes. So, we have come here to tell everyone that the agitation will become even stronger.” Ugrahan also said while challenging the government and the police, “The Delhi police is sending notices to union leaders. The police are also showing a picture of Ruldu Singh Mansa of his alleged presence in Red Fort on republic day. I challenge the Chandigarh police to arrest Ruldu Singh, who is sitting here today.”
President of Bharti Kisan Union (Haryana), Gurnam Singh Chaduni said that the central government was preparing to bring an end to employment in the country by giving the lands of farmers to corporate. He said, “Presently, it is very hard for farmers as well as laborers to survive, who are at the receiving ends due to the policies of the government. The income of everyone around, except the farmers is increasing. Now the matter is to save our future and our survival too.” Chaduni slammed the Modi government and said that the government has no issue in providing subsidies to the capitalists but they can't provide farmers the guarantee of MSP. He added if the three farm laws are not repealed, then the whole food grains will be stored in the warehouses of ‘Adanis’ and ‘Ambanis’. While calling the agitation ‘Dharamyudh’, Chaduni said, “The on-going agitation has no more remained the agitation of farmers. It is the agitation to save the nation from these corrupt leaders.”
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Chaduni appealed to the people to never cast their votes to the politicians, who were against the protest. “Never buy the items of Baba Ramdev’s brand. If any BJP leader will come to your place to hold any meeting or rally, do send him back.”
Ruldu Singh Mansa, president of Punjab Kisan Union, also slammed the central government from the stage of mahapanchayat today. He said, “With these bills, the laborers are equally affected as the farmers. In India, 35% of laborers are landless, while 12% are homeless already. With the implementation of these farm laws, the laborers will be finished. Secondly, the lands which the Modi government is trying to grab do not belong just to the farmers. Instead, these lands belong to all the residents of India as the whole nation eats from these lands.”
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Ruldu Singh said by forming a committee of farmers, the government was trying to lure the protesters. He promised to the people by saying, “The union leaders will never compromise on any demand of the government in the future meetings. The only demand of ours' is to repeal the three laws.” Talking about the private mandis, Ruldu Singh added that with the coming of private mandis, the government mandis will become useless as it happened with government buses and schools.
He also said, “The Delhi police is looking for arresting the people in connection with republic day violence. Never surrender yourself to any police personnel when they will come here to search you. Also, we will bear the expenses of those whose names are added in the criminal cases.”
Ruldu Singh claimed that the actual agitation was started after republic day. He said the agitation will keep going and it will also impact the upcoming elections in various states. In the last, he said, “Boycott socially all the BJP supporters from now onwards as they are our biggest enemies.”
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