Barnala/Fazilka, January 18
To observe ‘Mahila Kisan Diwas’, thousands of women today converged on the grain market at Dhanaula town in Barnala and raised their voice against the central farm laws. Protesters said they chose Dhanaula because BJP leader Harjeet Singh Grewal belongs to this town.
“The implementation of black farm laws will further burden the debt-ridden farmers of Punjab and impact the farming community adversely. BJP leaders like Grewal are trying to weaken our protest, and we would not allow that to happen at any cost,” said Manjit Kaur Barnala, spokesperson for BKU (Ugrahan).
Another woman leader, Gupreet Kaur, alleged the BJP-led central government first implemented the farm laws without any consultation with farmers and now its leaders were trying to convince farmers by distorting the facts about laws.
“The central government has been elected not by corporate houses, but the common man. It is hell-bent on destroying the agriculture sector,” alleged Komal Khanauri, BKU (Ugrahan) leader during the event.
Women and other activists of BKU (Ugrahan) from Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Ludhiana, Mansa and Barnala districts participated in protest.
“Our protests at all venues, including New Delhi borders and Punjab, are gaining strength by the day and more and more residents are joining us. We would compel central government to rollback the black laws” said Jarnail Singh Badra, general secretary, BKU (Ugrahan) Barnala.
In Fazilka, a large number of farmers, including hundreds of women, participated in a massive protest held outside the residence of BJP coordination committee chairman Surjit Kumar Jyani at his native Katehra village to observe ‘Mahila Kisan Diwas’ today.
The protest was led by BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan. After the failure of several rounds of talks with the central government, all factions of the BKU have decided to observe ‘Mahila Kisan Diwas’ to honour women for their incredible contribution in the protests.
Woman farmer leaders Gurpreet Kaur Jethuke from Bathinda and Kuldeep Kaur from Moga and Khet Mazdoor leaders Krishna Devi and Gurmel Kaur while addressing the gathering alleged that their rights were being snatched by the Centre and the three laws would ruin the farming community.
Kokri Kalan condemned BJP leaders Surjit Kumar Jyani and Harjeet Singh Grewal for their alleged anti-farmer stand. He said the protests against these leaders would continue. He demanded the repeal of the contentious laws, power amendment Bill and stubble pollution related ordinances.
Meanwhile, the farmers also observed a two-minute silence to pay tributes to farmers who have lost their lives during the protests.
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