Sikh leader underlines need to intensify farmers agitation
Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Sep, 2021 10:40 AM
Lucknow, Sep 20 (IANS) Jasbir Singh Virk, president of Bhartiya Sikh Sangthan, has underlined the need to intensify the ongoing farmers' agitation and said that there was a need to shore up strength at the Delhi borders.
Talking to reporters ahead of the Bharat bandh call on September 27, he said, "Women have played an active role and have been the backbone of the agitation. More people should now join the agitation."
He reminded that farmers' sacrifices in adverse weather conditions and the loss of lives during the massive protest should not go waste.
The UP-based Sikh leader urged more men to join the movement. "Several women from farmers' families, belonging to different states, have come out in support and have been actively involved in the movement. Their presence at the protest sites shows our unity, like a family, and the authorities should know that we are very serious," he added.
Virk further said, "We gave our complete support to the recent Kisan Maha Panchayat in Muzaffarnagar, and now we want the 'Bharat Bandh' on September 27 to be successful, too. People should, however, protest in a peaceful way during the 'bandh' and keep their premises shut."
He said that farmers, in particular, have been told to stay away from any kind of provocation and violence.
The 65-year-old leader said that he had been travelling to various states and conducting regular meetings with community members.
On Tuesday, the Delhi Police had said that they have busted a Pakistan-based terror module and arrested six persons, including two people -- Zeeshan and Javed -- who were trained in Pakistan.
According to the police, the accused, Raju Chaudhary, who was arrested from Jammu has revealed during the interrogation that Wazir was shot dead on September 3 and four more people were present at the time of the incident. A police official informed that former NC leader, Wazir, was also given sedatives before being killed.
Farmers said the UPPCL sent arbitrary electricity bills and if the farmers failed to pay, they are harassed unnecessarily. The farmers locked the door of the power discom office at Noida's sector 16 and continued their protest outside.
Two Pakistan-based men, including a Pakistani intelligence officer, have also been identified and booked in the case, in which one person was arrested earlier, DGP Dinkar Gupta disclosed on Wednesday.
Reacting to the Samyukt Kisan Morcha's criticism of the remarks he had made on Monday in this regard, he lamented that despite his government's unequivocal support to their cause, the farmers had misinterpreted his appeal and had, instead, tried to link it with the upcoming Assembly polls in the state.
Sample this. According to the All India Rice Exporters' Association, in 2018-19 India exported 951 tonnes but the figure shot up in 2020-21 to touch 33,1571 tonnes.
