The growing resentment among the farmers in Punjab against the Centre’s “anti-farmer” attitude manifested itself in ‘black diwali’ celebration with the agriculturists carrying out mashaal marches across villages on Saturday (Diwali day), gathering support for ‘Delhi Chalo’ call. Braving the rains and cold conditions on Sunday, the farmers continued with their protest which entered 45th day.
Punjab’s 30 farmers’ organizations, on the occasion of Diwali and Bandi Chodh Diwas, carried out mashaal (torch) marches at various Kisan Morchas and villages across Punjab. As per available information, the marches were conducted at more than hundred places across Punjab, with farmers walking holding torches in their hands, singing a revolutionary song “Mashaalan baal ke chalna, jadon tak raat baaki hai”.
Meanwhile, the farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, also observed ‘Black Diwali’ against the introduction of three Farm Bills and Electricity Amendment Bill, 2020, at Ferozepur. The farmers’ protest was supported by the labourers and family members by holding black flags at different villages and burning the PM Narendra Modi’s effigy. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, which had refused to participate in the farmers’ meeting with the Centre, lashed out at the Modi Govt for remaining adamant on the issue of allowing movement of both passenger and goods trains and sticking to its stand, while failing to give a convincing statement in the Friday meeting.
Notably, the farmers’ outfits have made it clear that the passengers’ trains would not be allowed to run at any cost.
Sending across the message and further strengthening communal harmony and calling for an organized struggle, the farmers continued their protests at toll plazas, Reliance pumps, railway parks and outside the residences of BJP leaders for the 45th day.
“In the meeting of farmers’ unions held on November 12, it was decided to celebrate Bandi Chodh Diwas and Diwali with enthusiasm by lighting mashaals (torches). Even though the farmers are under massive threat because of Government’s decisions and attitude…many are disappointed too. But, almost all organizations felt that the festivals should be celebrated to strengthen the communal harmony and also to give a befitting reply to the Governments,” said a farmer leader Jagmohan Singh Patiala.
Patiala said that during the torch marches in hundreds of villages in Punjab, which were led by the leaders of 30 farmers’ organizations, an invitation was extended to reach Delhi from November 26-27 despite all the restrictions.
He said that 30 farmers’ organizations have convened a meeting at Kisan Bhawan, Chandigarh, on November 18 to review their meeting with the Union Ministers and to chalk out the future course of action.
Meanwhile, the Bhartiya Kisan Union-Ekta (Dakonda) president Buta Singh Burjgill said that his organization has decided to commemorate the martyrdom of young Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha on November 16 and appealed to the other organizations to join.