COURTESYHT DEC 29

Punjab veterans carrying torch of solidarity start Delhi march

Ex-servicemen at Sahnewal in Ludhiana district before leaving for Delhi on Monday. HT PHOTO
HT Correspondent

letterschd@hindustantimes.com

LUDHIANA : Nearly 100 ex-servicemen from Punjab’s various districts on Monday began their march to Delhi to join the farmers protesting against the Centre’s agriculture laws at the Singhu border.

The veterans carrying a torch symbolising communal solidarity that will be placed at the protest site, were received by Vir Chakra awardee of 1971 War Lt Col HS Kahlon (retired) and Brig (retired) SS Gill at the Sahnewal gurdwara.

Kahlon said that in a democracy every citizen has the right to protest, but branding them as Khalistani or urban naxals was unfortunate.

“The BJP leaders should shun using language that will only add mistrust among people. Many soldiers who sacrificed their youth in the service of motherland have also joined the protests,” he added.

Brig (retd) Gill said over 40 men have died at the protest site so far. “It is high time that the government should address the plight of farmers. It is an open secret that these three laws are meant to benefit only a handful of corporate houses and are not going to benefit the farmers at all,” he said.