MORE FARMERS JOIN PROTESTERS AT NOIDA BORDER

NOIDA: With claims of the farmers’ protests being restricted to a few north Indian states, those protesting against the three new farm laws said they had support from groups from the eastern and southern states too.

The Bharatiya Kisan Union’s Lokshakti faction have been camping at the Dalit Prerna Sthal, while those from the Bhanu faction have been at a sit-in on the Noida-delhi Chilla border since December 1.

“It has been portrayed that only farmers from one or two states have issues with the new farm laws but every day we are joined by our brothers from various district of Uttar Pradesh who are showing us their support in our fight against the government. We also had a group from Orissa join us late last night to lend voice to our issues,” said Dr. Shailesh Giri, national spokesperson, Bhanu. HT could not contact these supporters.

He said that farmers were upset of not being with their families for Lohri and Makar Sankranti. “But we are resilient and we know why these sacrifices are important. We are celebrating in our own way by burning copies of the new laws in fire pyres. If our issues are resolved things will definitely get better. We are also organizing a dangal on Saturday to keep our brothers engaged and to show that we are not afraid to fight back,” said Giri. “We are already working towards our parade on January 26 in Delhi and no amount of coercion will keep us from our goals. We no longer even have faith in the next round of talks with the government (to be held on January 15),” said Yogesh Pratap Singh, state president, BKU Bhanu.

The group organised for Sankranti prayers on Friday. Their protest has kept traffic from Noida to Delhi diverted via the DND flyway. Police said that status quo is being maintained as far as law and order at the border is concerned.