The residents of Jalandhar on the call given by various farmer unions today held a massive tractor rally seeking withdrawal of agriculture laws framed by the Union Government to express solidarity with farmers struggling day and night on the Delhi borders in severe cold and rain.
With rows of tractors, jeeps and cars taking over the roads and highways, residents continued to raise slogans against the Modi government.
Flaunting banners of 'Kissan Union Ekta', 'No Farmers, No Food, No Future' and 'Repeal black laws', as many as 3000 residents including farmers and youth took out the tractor rally as massive show of strength and unity.
A convoy of over 350 tractors and 300 other vehicles travelled around 25km, covering the prominent locations of the city including Model Town, GTB Nagar, Guru Nanak Mission Chowk, Skylark Chowk, Nakodar Chowk, Kapurthala Chowk, BMC Chowk, Bus Stand, BSF Chowk and PAP.
Besides, police was also deployed on the road to ensure that the rally remain peaceful.
Gurshant Singh Sidhu, who not only participated in the rally but was also one of the organising members, said, they started their tractor rally on Saturday morning to further intensify the ongoing protest against the three farm laws. "The rally today, was another trailer of the republic day tractor march. We want to show the government that apart from the farmers on the outskirts of Delhi, a sea of farmers from across the state will also enter Delhi on January 26. We are warning the government to withdraw the controversial laws as it's just the "rehearsal" of the main show”, he said.
Karanveer Singh one of the protestors who was riding a tractor said, “It looks like the Prime Minister cannot see us or hear us despite being in such large numbers. He has forgotten that we are the ones who have voted him to power. Through the tractor rally we would like to tell the government that the whole of nation is standing in solidarity with the famers”.
Another, Gurpreet Singh, a farmer from village Lohian Khas, said, “This tractor rally was just the preparation to the main parade. Through today’s rally we were successful in displaying our preparations and strength to the government and give them an idea of how the rally on Republic Day will look like. We have no intention of getting into face-offs with any person or authority of any kind, all we want is repeal of the three laws”
Mashaal March
Carrying mashaals and candles in their hands, around 300-400 people also carried out a mashaal march today. Organised by NGO, "V4U (The Helping Hand)" and Trade Union Council Jalandhar, the march was strarted from Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall and was concluded at Model Town.