A massive protest was organised in support of the protesting farmers by The Tribune Employees Union, Chandigarh, along with other media, farmer and employee organisations.
Hundreds of people from various sections of the society came out to join in the protests against the three Farm Laws enacted by the Central Government in September with the intent to favour corporatisation in the agriculture sector. Carrying black flags and the white and green flags of the Kisan Unions, the speakers all derided the laws and demanded their revocation.
Along with The Tribune Employees Union, the Sanjha Mulazzam Manch, The Indian Express Employees Union, Punjabi Patarkar and Lekhak Manch, Punjab and Chandigarh Journalists Union, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal), Punjab Kisan Union, Punjab Students Union, besides senior journalists, intellectuals, theatre artistes of the region and officers of Public Relations Department, Punjab, all participated in the protest.
Speaking on the occasion, Anil Gupta, President of The Tribune Employees Union, said that the Centre had enacted these Laws without due consultation with all stakeholders, which was against the spirit of democracy.
General Secretary of The Tribune Employees Union, Ruchika M. Khanna, said that the Laws will have severe repercussions for the region’s agrarian economy and social fabric.
Kanwaljit Singh, senior lawyer and Manjit Singh, a eminent intellectual, said that the farmers were carrying on a peaceful protest for the past two months, but the Centre had refused to relent. Sukhchain Khera, president of Sanjha Mulazzam Manch, said that the BJP government at the Centre had become so arrogant that they were unwilling to see reason and were mute spectators to farmers braving the cold weather on the roads. Tejinder Singh Rajewal from BKU (Rajewal), who was accompanied by many farmers, said that the farmers were prepared for a long haul protest in favour of their demands, but would not succumb to any pressure from the Center. “If agriculture was handed over to the corporates, as was intended through these Laws, the prices of all agriculture products will go up sharply, hitting all consumers,” he said.
Among others who spoke on the occasion were senior journalists Jagtar Singh Sidhu and Tarlochan Singh. They said that if the issue was not resolved and the demands of farmers not met, they would all proceed to Delhi and participate in the struggle alongside farmers.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunil Jakhar, health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, Food and Supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, senior Akali leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Youth Akali Dal president Parambans Singh Romana also came to participate in the protest.
