Driving hundreds of kms, braving odds for parade
NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: Love Preet Singh, a 27-year-old farmer from Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, drove his tractor for almost a day to cover about 435 kilometres with his group to reach UP Gate on January 23, to participate in the protesting farmers’ tractor parade on Republic Day. Hundreds of farmer groups are headed to UP Gate from different parts of UP, Uttarakhand and Punjab to be a part of the proposed tractor parade.
Singh said his group consisting of 70 people and 14 tractors drove through jungle areas around his village in order to reach UP Gate. Most farmer groups are using the NH 9 and the Delhi-meerut Road to reach UP Gate in Ghaziabad.
“There were restrictions in our area as officials were persuading us not to go. However, we gave them the slip and drove about 20kms in jungle area to head to UP Gate. Later, our families called up and said officials were surprised to know how the tractors slipped out silently. The work for sugarcane crops in fields is still going on but we left everything behind,” Singh said.
“Each tractor consumed diesel worth about Rs 7,000 for one side of the journey. But we took out our savings as each of us wanted to be a part of this historic event,” he added.
Hardeep Singh, an 18-year-old man from Lakhimpur Khiri who has completed his class 12 studies, is a first timer at UP Gate.
“The farming sector is being modernised, and I wish to implement the same to my farmland, besides continuing my education. During the entire 24 hours journey, we faced harsh weather and chill, besides dense fog. I feel that issues of farmers which had been on backburner have become talking points and this will benefit the sector,” he added.
Hundreds of tractors along with trolleys have started lining up at the Ghaziabad-delhi carriageway of the DME and beeline has now extended up to the Nibcrossing (Noida) beyond Khoda Colony area on the expressway.
Dilbagh Singh, another farmer from Lakhimpur Kheri, said if demands are not met, they have other plans. “After this parade, we will start growing limited crops and it will only be sufficient for our families and for families of our labourers. This will mean that we will stop growing extra crops and supplies will thin out. It will be another mode of protest in coming time,” he added.
“Our group has come with 70 tractors while only 30 tractors stayed back in our village, Chandra. If need be they also will be called. With our savings, members of our group have procured yellow-coloured t-shirts with the slogan “I love kheti” (farming),” Kashmir Singh, who is a farmer and member of ‘Chandra Youth Club’ from Amroha, said.
The farmers joining the UP Gate protesters were allotted tents by the UP Gate farmers’ committee while many have come with their trolleys attached, on which they have set up small huts covered with tarpaulin for shelter.
“We have asked farmers to bring food items for about fiveseven days. We have no count of how many will come but they are coming in hundreds. We are coordinating with officials and our volunteers are ready to ensure our parade goes on smoothly,” said Rakesh Tikait, national spokesperson, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU).
Jagtar Singh Bajwa, member of the UP Gate farmers’ committee said that thousands of farmers in tractors have already started from their respective districts in UP and Uttarakhand while some groups are also to likely join from states like Odisha, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra.
At Chilla border, preparations for peaceful march
Meanwhile, farmers camped at the Chilla border are also busy preparing for the rally on January 26, after getting the nod from the Delhi Police.
“Our target was for 1,000 tractors and over one lakh of our supporters to reach us. People are gathering here gradually and we hope to go from the Dalit Prerna Sthal to Chilla border, then Akshardham and Kranti Marg before returning,” said Shailesh Kumar Giri, national spokesperson, Bku-lokshakti.
Farmers also said that they will coordinate with the police and administration to to carry out a peaceful parade.
A spokesperson for BKU Bhanu said 200 of their tractors will move from the border to the Mayur Vihar flyover before moving onto the Delhi-noida-direct (DND) Flyway before returning.
“The number of tractors would have been higher if our supporters were not being stopped mid-way. But we will carry out a peaceful protest irrespective of any obstacles,” said Yogesh Pratap Singh, state president, Bku-bhanu.
Meanwhile, Noida police is on high alert. “We are yet to receive any official route guidelines from Delhi and will allow movement only on the allowed route.we are prepared to take necessary action if there is or public disorder,” said ADCP, Zone 1, Kumar Ranvijay Singh.