Baghpat village bans leaders not backing farmers
The villagers of Saroorpur Kala in western Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district have banned the entry of those leaders who are not supporting the ongoing farmers’ agitation against three contentious agriculture laws.
The decision was taken at a panchayat of 36 caste groups held in the village on Wednesday. The village has a population of about 25,000.
Subhash Nain, a farmer who attended the panchayat, said, “The entire panchayat unanimously condemned those leaders (of political parties or farmers’ organisations) who are not extending their support to the ongoing movement and unanimously decided to ban their entry in the village.”
“What’s their relevance if they can’t stand with the farmers during their battle for survival?” asked Nain while quoting the panchayat’s views.
The panchayat also decided to visit the protesting farmers in Delhi with ration and other essential items on January 16.
It was decided to collect donations, monetary or otherwise, from each family of the village, irrespective of their caste and community, in support of the movement.
“Villagers have so far donated Rs 4.5 lakh and spared at least nine tractors to take ration and other commodities (mainly firewood to protect farmers from the cold),” said Nain. He added that the village pradhan Jeet Singh had made a contribution of Rs 21,000 and spared his tractor for Delhi.
Similarly, former pradhan Tejveer Singh and Jagveer Singh had contributed Rs 5,000 and Rs 2,100, respectively, he added. Other villagers have also donated in support of the protesting farmers, he said.
The villagers claimed that they had nothing to do with any party. “What to do with a government which doesn’t listen even to the genuine demands of people?” asked a villager.
Meanwhile, farmers’ indefinite dharna (sit-in) continued on the twenty-eighth day in Baraut town of the Baghpat district.
Earlier, farmers led by khap chaudharies (khap or clan leaders) sat on dharna on the Delhisaharanpur highway on December 17 in order to extend their support to the ongoing protest.
Activists of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) (Tomar) staged a day-long dharna at the Meerut Cantt railway station on Tuesday to show their solidarity with movement.