COURTESY HT NOV 27

BKU faction does a U-turn, to start ‘Dilli Chalo’ march

Protesters at Doomwali barrier in Bathinda. SANJEEV KUMAR/HT
Vishal Joshi and Avtar Singh

vishal.joshi@htlive.com

BATHINDA : Facing a backlash from its supporters for pursuing peaceful sit-ins in Punjab against the Centre’s contentious agriculture laws, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) on Thursday evening did a U-turn and announced to proceed to Delhi with a “full force” from Friday.

Union president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said the union activists in large numbers will cross Haryana from Doomwali in Bathinda and Khanauri in Sangrur by Friday noon.

“While planning for the Dilli Chalo march, it was decided by all national farmer unions that activists will undertake indefinite dharnas at a spot where their movement was restricted,” said Ugrahan. The union is considered the largest among the 31 farmer organisations from Punjab with a significant following in Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda and Barnala. It is seen as an ‘aggressive’ front that has sizeable support of women and youth.

Farmers from Amritsar, Tarn Taran to begin march to Delhi

Hundreds of farmers from Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts are all set to begin their protest march towards the national capital on Friday.

The march will be led by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), which has a stronghold in Majha region. According to the union leaders, the march will comprise more than 150 tractor-trailers, besides other vehicles. Farmers from 150 villages are taking part in the protest, they said.