Punjab villagers headed to Delhi borders swap tractors for buses, trains as mode of journey

ON THE name given by BKU Ugrahan, yet one more batch of farmers began off for the Tikri border. However, this time, they have been seen getting into buses as a substitute of convoys of tractors. This change has come about ever for the reason that January 26 episode.
On Friday, villagers from over 700 villages of 15 districts of Punjab went to the Tikri border. A batch glided by bus Friday morning whereas one other batch glided by Punjab Mail from Ferozepur, with the prepare making stops at Faridkot, Bathinda and Mansa as nicely. “they were in thousands, we cannot give an exact count,” stated Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan, common secretary BKU Ugrahan.
“Farmers are going to be part of Guru Ravidass Jayanti and also to observe the martyrdom day of freedom fighter Chander Shekhar Azad on Saturday,” stated Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan whereas speaking with The Indian Express. About the modified mode of transport, he stated, “People above the age of 50 feel discomfort while going on tractor-trolleys and hence we changed the mode of transport to buses/vans in majority. A few tractors are still going even now. Youngsters still prefer to go via tractors, but already, many tractors are parked at the dharna spot as well. Moreover, it seems to be a long haul against farm laws and hence, we are spending money on transport with restrain now, though each village unit has enough funds.”

Earlier, quite a few folks have been sponsoring gas for tractors, many others have been giving their buses freed from price and farmers needed to bear bills of solely gas. But now the variety of autos solely on gas has decreased and preserving in thoughts the summer time forward, farmer unions are spending funds judiciously.
Farmers have yet one more occasion scheduled for Women’s Day on March 8 when ladies are anticipated to maneuver to borders in massive numbers.
Sources stated that after the January 26 episode, farmer unions have grow to be additional cautious. Union leaders indicated that many anti-social components may additionally be part of tractor riders on the way in which on the pretext of in search of a carry. “Farmers at times stop on the way as well and hence the convoy also breaks. Tractor-trolleys can lead to road accidents as well. So there are multiple reasons for taking fewer tractors towards Delhi now,” stated Jagseer Singh Kothaguru from Kothaguru village of Bathinda district.
On Friday evening, batches of farmers left for Bahadurgarh by way of Punjab Mail which began from Ferozepur and farmers boarded it en route from Bathinda and Mansa, Faridkot as nicely. “We need to carry milk along, hence the train suits us more,” stated Gora Singh, from Mansa district.
Youngsters in addition to aged have been getting into equal numbers, Kokrikalan stated. Replying to Lakha Sidhana’s enchantment to kids to begin going in direction of borders to help kisan unions, he stated, “What can we say about him, if he is so confident about the youngsters who are supporting him. they can very well organise a dharna at any border of Delhi. I don’t want to go much into his statements. All the unions are on one platform on the issue of farm laws and so are the people.”

Sources stated quite a few villagers have been despatched notices by Delhi Police after their tractors have been noticed within the nationwide capital on Republic Day. Though farmer union leaders have requested villagers to tear off these notices, sources stated this might be one more reason for taking fewer tractors in direction of Delhi borders.