1971 war veterans oppose agri laws

Tribune News Service

Singhu, December 16

A number of 1971 war veterans, while commemorating Vijay Divas at the Singhu border, on Wednesday opposed the three contentious Central agriculture laws and showed solidarity with the protesting farmers.

The war veterans said the new agiculture laws would prove detrimental to the farming community. Seeking repeal of the contentious farm Acts, the veterans said they were ready to fight the farmers’ battle.

Subedar Major Tarsem Singh (retd) from Moga said: “We are here because most of us belong to families of farmers. It is our moral duty to support their cause”.

Captain Bikar Singh (retd) said: “Farmers across the country are protesting against these laws, but the Union Government is not ready to budge. It is shameful for the government that both jawan and kisan are unhappy in the country.”

While their sons were keeping the borders secure, the farmers were forced to protest on the roads for their genuine rights, said Bikar Jogendra Singh, president of the Indian Veteran Organisation.

“The Central Government made a mistake by not consulting the farmers before introducing the agriculture Bills in Parilament. We thus appeal to the government to immediately consider the farmer unions’ just demands and repeal the controversial laws,” he said. The farmers’ stir is growing stronger and stronger with each passing day, with support pouring in from various organisations.

‘Uniformed’ man in stir raises concern

Chandigarh: The government is closely watching the impact of the farmers’ protest on the uniformed community as a large chunk of their manpower come from rural areas and agrarian background. Concern has been raised in official circles after the photograph of a turbaned person wearing the Army field dress bearing a name tag at a protest site in Bathinda cropped up on the social media, prompting a probe by intelligence agencies to ascertain his identity and antecedents. TNS