‘Black Day’ observed at UP Gate to mark six months of farmer protest
GHAZIABAD: Hundreds of farmers protesting against the Centre’s three farm laws at the UP Gate marked six months of their agitation on Wednesday by observing a “Black Day” and burning effigies of the government. Later, farmer leaders, who have been demanding the repeal of the farm laws, said the government is using Covid-19 just as an “alibi so that the laws stay in place”.
To mark the Black Day, the farmers waved black flags and donned black clothes to press for their demands.
Farmer leader Jagtar Singh Bajwa, who is a member of UP Gate farmers’ committee, said that about 1,000 farmers gathered
to observe “Kala Diwas (Black Day)”, but they followed all Covid protocols.
“We did not call farmers here; they arrived on their own. We observed social distancing, and everyone was wearing a mask. We waved black flags and burnt effigies. Flags were also waved by people in villages as a mark of
protest. For the past six months, there has been no solution and we will continue our movement,” Bajwa added.
The farmers are staying put at the UP Gate site since November 28 last year. The several talks with the Centre have failed to break the deadlock.
The Ghaziabad police said that the protest by farmers went off peacefully. “They brought black flags and also tried to burn effigies. When we tried to stop them, they entered jurisdiction of Delhi. About 700-800 protesters had gathered today. Majority of them arrived from Uttarakhand. The police deployment was there,” said Gyanendra Kumar Singh, SP (city 2).
Meanwhile, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said it seems that the agitation will get prolonged. “The government is not ready to talk to peaceful protesters. We ask whether Covid is the bigger issue or farm laws? If Covid is a bigger issue, they should take back the laws and farmers will return home. But Covid is just being given as an alibi so that laws continue to stay in place. We will continue protesting peacefully,” Tikait said.