We only want fair price, police should have let us pass, say farm leaders

“Ki gal, kisan es mulk de vasi nahi je? Jadon pani spray karde, disnon hat janda, jadon pani de chhitte marde haan, pher set hunda hai kamm.” (What’s the matter, aren’t farmers the residents of this country? When they spray water on us, we can’t see, then when we splash water on our faces, only then can we see). These are words of Davinder Singh Sandhwan, vice-president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), Doaba, and Ranvinder Singh Farala, Nawanshahr vice-president of the same organisation, who were part of the first batch of farmers who reached Shambhu border yesterday to protest against the ‘meagre’ paddy MSP being received by farmers.

While the duo saw farmer Surjit Singh Phool getting injured in front of their eyes, they say they would be back to the border in a few days. The duo today returned to their respective villages, Sandhwan and Farala.

Speaking to The Tribune, Sandhwan said, “We had announced the protest long back but what peeved farmers yesterday was that we were still greeted with grills and barricades. We were at the frontline yesterday when the barricades were being removed by farmers. Water was splashed on us through water cannons. And it is due to this reason that you can’t see for some time, unless you splash water and wash your face. Yesterday’s jathas of 101 farmers had gone under the leadership of farm leader Sarwan Singh Pandher and Satnam Singh Pannu. Another group of 101 farmers will head to the Shambhu border on December 8. We are not relenting until our demands are met.”

Sandhwan further said, “The Supreme Court had said that there would be no obstruction if farmers walk to Delhi. But now, even peacefully walking farmers are being stopped. I also argued with a cop on the issue that had they imposed Section 144 (Section 163 of the BNS) only for farmers or for all Haryana residents. That’s my question, why are farmers being singled out.”

Ranvinder Singh Farala, BKU Doaba’s Nawanshahr vice-president, said, “Asi tan shaheed hon gaye si, gharan ch das ke gaye si. Sirf jhanda te danda lai ke aye si, te ik kameez (we went to the border to be martyred, we had told families too. We took only flags and sticks and one shirt each)”.

He added that, “They may say anything. We know ours is a peaceful protest. Haryana police should have allowed us to walk through. Even today I have a burning sensation in my cheeks from the tear gas shells they threw at us yesterday. We took off the barbed wires and barricades, but couldn’t remove the grills. The gas even affects kidneys.”

He added, “Paddy MSP is our main issue, farmers only want a fair price for their crops. Tomorrow, 101 farmers will go again.”