The call for ‘Tractor-March” given by the farmer leaders evoked poor response in Haryana as farmers in most of the districts of the state were seen reluctant to participate in the agitation.
The tractor marches were reported in a few places in districts like Ambala, Panipat and Hisar.
The call for tractor march was given by the farmer leaders associated with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha after the Haryana police had foiled another attempt of farmers to enter Haryana and launch the Delhi march on December 16.
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher has also announced ‘Rail roko’ from 12 noon till 3 pm in Punjab on Wednesday. Farmers in Kaithal, Hisar, and Panipat, organized tractor marches to support Punjab farmers protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
In Kaithal, farmers gathered at Kisan Chowk in Kalayat and marched to the SDM office. After the protest, they submitted a memorandum to the tehsildar, urging the Prime Minister to intervene in the ongoing 11-month-long protest at the two borders.
In Hisar, farmers held a tractor march on the Delhi-Sirsa highway, starting from the Ramayan toll plaza and ending at the Hansi mini secretariat, where they submitted a memorandum to the SDM. In Panipat, a tractor march was held on the Panipat-Rohtak road, with wrestler Bajrang Punia joining the protest.
Meanwhile, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni has also urged the Samyukta Kisan Morcha leaders to get united over the issues of the farmers and fight this battle strongly.
“Considering the current situation of the ongoing struggle at the border, it is imperative for all of us to rethink and unite under one platform. A joint committee should be formed to take this movement to a nationwide level so that farmers’ demands can be met. Therefore, we earnestly request all members to convene a joint meeting as soon as possible to draft the future course of action and strategy for this movement”, reads a letter written to SKM leaders.
Meanwhile, Congress leader and former wrestler Bajrang Punia also extended his support to the tractor march. He said, “Farmers have been protesting at the Haryana-Punjab border for the past 10 months. Dallewal Ji has been on a hunger strike for 21 days, and his condition is extremely critical. Today, farmers across the country held tractor marches in support of the farmers’ movement and Dallewal Ji. I also participated in the march. I will always stand with the farmers in their fight for their rights.”
Congress leader Kumari Selja also expressed her concerns over the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and urged Prime Minister Narendra
Modi to take immediate action to address the farmers’ demands. The Sirsa MP criticized the government, stating that it has transformed the Punjab and Haryana borders into something resembling the India-Pakistan border. Instead of resolving the farmers’ grievances, they are being confronted with water cannons and tear gas shells.
