COURTESY HT JAN 30

Punjab panchayats issue diktat: Attend farmers’ stir or face fine, boycott
Vishal Joshi/Mohit Khanna/Avtar Singh

letterschd@hindustantimes.com

BATHINDA/LUDHIANA/SANGRUR/BARNALA : Panchayats of various villages across Punjab have issued a diktat of imposing penalty and threatened a complete social boycott of those who refuse to attend ongoing farmer agitation on the borders of Delhi.

Panchayat of Virk Khurd village in Bathinda district has passed a resolution announcing a fine of Rs 1,500 on the violators of the ‘order’. The panchayat said the initiative was taken to express that mayhem by a section of farmers in Delhi on the Republic Day has not dampened the spirit of masses. Sarpanch Manjit Kaur said it is now compulsory for the villagers to send at least one person from each household for the dharna site on Delhi border. She said that money collected from violators will be used to support farmers sitting on protests.

Located at about 25-kms from here near the local airport, Virk Khurd has a population of about 2,300. Villagers say Ugrahan and Dakaunda factions of the Bhartiya Kisan unions have a major following in the area. Peer pressure is being mounted to participate in the agitation, said a villager.

Sarpanch’s son Jagjit Singh, who claims to assist his mother in discharging all activities of the panchayat, said the move will ensure the strength of people at dharna spot when it is much needed to give it a boost post-mayhem in Delhi.

“There are only a few people who have been taking turns to visit Tikri border for the last several weeks. Now all men from the village will mark their support by remain present at Tikri border,” he added.

Diktat comes with an incentive. If a vehicle breaks down, the entire village will contribute for repair, he added.

Ludhiana village to send 2 tractor-trailers a day

The panchayat of Mushkabad village near Samrala has also passed a resolution that each member of the family will have to spend four days at the protest site at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri borders, failing which the family will have to pay a penalty of Rs 1,500, which will be used in the ‘langar’ being served to the protestors. The duties will be given on a rotation basis. The village gas a population of 3,000.

Jugraj Singh, panch of Mushkabad village, said the resolution was passed in favour of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, whose emotional video has had gone viral. “The incidents have strengthened our resolve. We will first visit Ghazipur and thereafter Singhu border,” he said.

Panchayats, farmer bodies start mobilisation

Days after the Delhi episode, panchayats in Barnala and Sangrur and farmer unions have started a mobilisation drive to intensify protest against agriculture laws. The panchayat Dhilwan Khurd village under Tapa tehsil in Barnala district passed a resolution saying that 15 people will join protests at the Delhi borders against farm laws. Rs 100 will be collected as fund from farmers per acre and in case a farmer returns before completing a week at the protest site, he will be fined Rs 300.

“The residents of the village called a meeting and tried to show solidarity with ongoing farmers’ struggle by passing a resolution to send 15 people with tractor-trailers laden with milk, food and firewood every week,” said village sarpanch Joginder Singh.

“After Delhi episode, farmers were returning to their villages. We want to boost their morale,” he added. Also, the residents of Badrukhan village in Sangrur district, including members of gram panchayat, held a meeting and decided to send a man from each family at the Delhi borders. The leaders of BKU (Rajewal) and BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) also attended the meeting.