Punjab: Farmers ready for ‘Delhi Chalo’ march

Punjab: Farmers are going door-to-door in villages to collect ration for the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march from Khanauri Border on December 6. Apart from carrying five months of supplies, farmers have modified their tractor-trailers to use them as rooms and kitchens during the winter. They have appealed to villagers to send at least one person from each household for the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march. “Preparations are going on in full swing. After the Centre accepted our demands during the 2020-21 agitation, we are getting a good response from the public,” said Resham Singh Yatri, general secretary of BKU (Siddhupur) in Bathinda. He said he has reached the Khanauri border with people from 121 villages in Bathinda district and more people will reach here in the next few days. “We are carrying adequate ration including pulses, wheat and rice. We are ready for the long journey and will return only after the Centre accepts our demands,” Yatri said. He said several teams are on the ground to garner support for the protest. Another farmer union leader claimed the protest was necessitated because of farmers’ demand for a law guaranteeing MSP. He said the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, if implemented, would revolutionise the agriculture sector by addressing issues such as crop insurance, debt relief and additional monetary compensation for land. “Other demands include punishment for the perpetrators of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, pension for farmers above 58 years of age and implementation of the ‘Fasal Bima Yojana’ in letter and spirit,” he said.