Sandeep Singh: The Revival Of Singhu Border
Sandeep Singh: The Revival Of Singhu Border
Farmers continue to arrive, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, to celebrate the first anniversary of the march to the capital, and prepare for the formal repeal of the three farm laws in parliament.
Sandeep Singh
November 26, 2021 | 2.5 min. read | Original Reporting
This is the busiest Singhu border has been since the January 26 Republic Day tractor rally ten months ago. The festival-like energy that the border sites experienced in the first two months of #DelhiChalo has returned.
Farmers continue to arrive, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, to celebrate the first anniversary of the march to the capital, and prepare for the formal repeal of the three farm laws in parliament.
Men, women, and children were seen raising slogans and waving farm union flags. The greatest energy followed Punjabi singer Babbu Maan and activist Lakha Sidhana, again reminiscent of the early days of the agitation.
Youth shouted jubilant slogans and Jakaras rang when Sidhana took the main stage to speak.
Sidhana made two key points during his speech.
He first suggested that after the farm laws are repealed during the winter session, Modi should form a committee to ensure a guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and that farmers are wise to not go back home until the government fulfills the demand
Sidhana’s second point was in reference to Punjab’s politics. He told farmers that once farmers return home, they will have to defeat the corrupt parties of Punjab, especially those that promise hollow freebies everyday in place of substantial reforms.
Amidst the new buzz, it is important to remember the steadfast supporters that remained committed to staying at Singhu over the past year.
Pyardeep Singh, 15, is from a landless family hailing from Jalandhar’s Raipur Rasoolpur village. He came to Singhu Border in March and since then he has remained at the protest site except for a week which he spent at his home.
He belongs to the Dalit community and his father died a few years ago and his mother abandoned him as well. Pyardeep is being raised by his grandfather and grandmother. Pyardeep Singh is a class 10th student and said he will not go back until the farm laws are repealed and MSP gets guaranteed. His only desire is to learn English and to move to Canada and he claims that his village’s Gurudwara committee has promised him financial help to get him an education.
Gursikh Hardeep Singh, 66, is from Punjab’s Tarn Taran. He has been at Singhu Border since the protest began. He came with a Sikh organization and helped in setting up a tea and biscuit langar. He had fallen sick when the farmers were attacked with petrol bombs by a mob after January 26. He again joined the protest again after getting treated. He plans to stay at the protest till the end.
Shamsher Singh, 60, is a diesel mechanic from the historic city of Machhiwara. He painted his tractors with the Indian flag and was seen driving through the site while Rai Jujhar’s song Raj Khalsa Ayega Dobara played. A paradox of sorts. Shamsher owns only an acre of land but he wants to show solidarity with all protestors as his livelihood depends on the farmers.
We run into Rustam Sheikh from Punjab’s Zirakpur who had just brought in new supplies for langar.
“It has been a year since the Farmers’ Protest began so we came here to show our solidarity.”
Sheikh was holding a poster that read “MSP is our right.”
“Modi announced to repeal new farm laws but without promising MSP. We will keep protesting until the government repeals the new farm laws.”
Sandeep Singh hails from Machhiwara, Punjab. As an independent journalist, he has worked with many prominent Indian news organizations. Sandeep has been following the farmer’s protest in Punjab since its onset and traveled with them to Delhi. He spends most of his time at the Singhu border protest site. You can follow Sandeep on Twitter @Punyaab
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