Followingthe call of the Samyukt Kissan Union (SKU), the farmers under the banner ofPendu Mazdoor Union and Kirti Kissan Union today went on a one-day hungerstrike. Calling the attack on farmers at the Sinhgu border on Friday, agovernment -sponsored violence, the farmers held the strike outside theDistrict Administration Complex (DAC).
Whilecondemning the attack, allegedly led by the ruling political party, the farmersdemanded immediate repeal of the three contentious farm laws. Over a hundredfarmers including some students observed the strike from 12 PM-3.30 PM.Moreover, on the occasion of the death anniversary of the Mahatma Gandhi, thefarmers also observed Sadbhavna Diwas.
Demandswere made for the arrest of those responsible for the Delhi violence, includingthe enactment of a law to guarantee minimum support price, and the cancellationof false notices issued against peasant leaders.
KamaljitSingh, a member of the Punjab Students Union, stated that the union governmentwith the connivance of government agencies and the police has turned thepeaceful agitation of the farmers into a violent. "Owing to the suspensionof internet at the Delhi-Hayana borders rumours and false information isbeing spread across the country to malign the farmers' protest”, he added.
RattanSingh, president of the Kirti Kissan Union, said that even as the conspiraciesof the government successfully blemished our two months long peacefulagitation, we wouldn't give up until the laws were withdrawn. "It was sadfor us that our historic tractor march was stained with the communalcolour but we will continue to agitate peacefully and will expose thegovernment", added Rattan, while criticizing stone-pelting on the farmersin the presence of police.
TarsemPeter, State President, Rural Workers Union Punjab, Kashmir SinghGhughsor, Mangaljit Pandori, State Leader of Punjab Students Union JasvirKaur, and others were present in the protest.