Sandeep Singh: From The Farmers’ Protest To The Kaumi Insaaf Morcha
Sandeep Singh: From The Farmers’ Protest To The Kaumi Insaaf Morcha
“The government should understand that these people won’t go away till their demands are accepted. We will protest just like we had done during the Farmers’ Protest.”
Sandeep Singh
February 8, 2023 | 4 min. read | Original Reporting
Punjab sees itself host to another growing popular protest movement, the Kaumi Insaaf Morcha, approximately a year removed from the successful conclusion of the Farmers’ Protest.
This time demonstrators are demanding the release of “Bandi Singhs,” Sikh political prisoners, many of which are being arbitrarily held and detained well beyond their sentences, amongst other Panthic concerns. The protestors have set themselves up just outside the state capital of Chandigarh at YPS Chowk in Mohali.
Today, police clashed with protestors at the Punjab-Chandigarh border. The police used water cannons while Sikhs were peacefully demonstrating and courting arrest, according to journalist Manpreet Singh.
The police's arbitrary violence provoked protestors, which led to Nihangs coming on horses in defense. There was stone pelting and tractors were brought to remove the police barricades as well.
Protestors were successful in turning off the police water cannon and damaging police vehicles, even acquiring some police safety equipment.
The visuals at the chowk remind one of the Singhu border outside Delhi, where farmers had set up camp about two years ago. The similarities do not end there though, as many of those participating in the Kaumi Insaf Morcha also participated in the Farmers’ Protest.
As I arrived at the site, volunteers were pitching more tents, including Satnam Singh, 38, with the help of his friends.
“The government should understand that these people won’t go away till their demands are accepted. We will protest just like we had done during the Farmers’ Protest.”
He spent time at the now iconic Matka Chowk during the Farmers’ Protest, a member of the Kistan Ekta Chandigarh, which came into formation in Chandigarh during that movement.
“Just like Farmers’ Protest, We will go back after winning Kaumi Insaf Morcha. This protest is started by Sikh Sangat and Sangat is running it. There is no going back until victory,” he shares.
There are large hoardings of Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa appointed Jathedar of the Akal Takht currently in jail, everywhere at the protest site. He seems to have become the face of the morcha.
There are libraries here, just like there were in Delhi. Even individuals like Baba Sarop Singh, who used to fix shoes at the Farmers’ Protest, are engaging in the same seva at the Kaumi Insaaf Morcha.
Nihang Sikhs, which can be seen from afar on their horses, have put up a mocha at the protest too. The Guru Granth Sahib is present, and Path is done in the morning and evening. A banner of Amreek Singh, the first casualty during Kaumi Insaaf Morcha, is hanging nearby.
A jatha of farmers associated with Kisan Mazdoor Sanghars Committee came from Majha region to protest, raising anti-Modi slogans as well, as the movement grows. Punjab’s biggest farm union BKU (Ugrahan), held a morcha as well, demanding the release of all political prisoners, including Sikhs.
Daljit Singh, 48, from Patti Tehsil of Tarntaran District of Punjab, is present at the protest with three other farmers from his village.
“Ram Rahim, a convicted rapist who is also anti-Sikh, is being repeatedly released on parole. But, Sikh political prisoners are still in jail despite spending more than 20-years in jail. Ram Rahim is holding religious programs and releasing songs. But Sikhs are not being released.”
Daljit Singh also draws inspiration from the Farmers’ Protest.
“We were even at the Singhu border and did not spare the Modi government. Just like Farmers’ Protest, we will fight till fulfilment of our demands.”
The three villagers that join him at YPS Chowk will return home in about a week, with another group from his hometown coming to replace them at the protest.
Students Sukhwinder Singh and Jodh Singh from the student organization Sath have set up a tent at the protest as well. Sukhwinder Singh joined the protest just two days after his marriage, stressing the importance of answering the call to release Sikh political prisoners.
Amrit Maurh, 23, a Master’s in Geography, is a professional Basketball player from Chandigarh. She comes every day to the morcha with her grandmother and have set up a tent at the protest with her friends. Maurh says she will keep attending the demonstrations until the prisoners are released.
She plans to start a library at the protest as well, and even convinced her sister to be present at the protest site tomorrow as Maurh will have to step away due to an exam.
There is a mandir, a Hindu place of worship, near the Kaumi Insaaf Morcha. The mandir priests have opened it for Sikhs, which protestors have been using to take baths and use the washrooms.
Sandeep Singh hails from Machhiwara, Punjab. As an independent journalist, he has worked with many prominent Indian news organizations. Sandeep is best known for his widely acclaimed reporting during the Farmers’ Protest . You can follow Sandeep on Twitter @Punyaab
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