Farmers camping at Burari move to join protests at Ghazipur

Active on social media platforms, Singh received numerous messages that farmers from different parts of the country were marching to Delhi to demand a repeal of the laws.

Davinder Singh, 27, a farmer from Pooranpur in Uttar Pradesh, has been keeping a track of protests that erupted in Punjab after the Centre passed the new farm laws two months ago. Active on social media platforms, Singh received numerous messages that farmers from different parts of the country were marching to Delhi to demand a repeal of the laws. On November 27, Singh, and four other farmers, finally joined the protests.

Farmers take rest on tractor-trolleys at night during their ongoing protest against the Centre's new farm laws, at Singhu border in New Delhi, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (PTI photo)

“We packed some woollen wear, a few essentials, clothes, and drove from Pooranpur to Burari. Our friends from the village later brought in the ration, mattresses, tarpaulin sheets, bamboo sticks, gas cylinders, stove, utensils, and other items in trucks and tractors. The supplies are enough for us to last at least six months,” Singh said.

However, nearly a week after setting things up at the Nirankari ground at Burari – the government’s designated spot for farmer protests -- Singh and his friends had to move again.

“We thought our issues would be addressed here. We waited for the government to come to meet us and listen to our concerns, but no one came. This is why we decided to pack all our essentials and drive to Ghazipur to participate in the road blockade,” he said.

Every evening, he draws a yellow tarpaulin sheet from his truck over the red cycle track on Ghazipur flyover and ties it to the railing on the road. Singh and his friends then sleep below this canopy on some mattresses, with blankets being their only protection against Delhi’s harsh winters. Every morning, the tarpaulin sheet is folded back and the poles used to erect them go back to resting against the railing.

Singh, a first-time protester, said it is challenging to live on the road and to deal with the possibility of moving from one place to another with all their belongings.

“If the talks with the government are inconclusive today, we will move further inside the city. We are aware that it means moving with our belongings once again. But there is no other option,” said Rambir Singh, 63, another farmer from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh who reached Delhi on November 30. He too was among those who had camped at Burari Ground. (QUOTE WILL BE UPDATED)

Several protesters, who have travelled from different states, said that apart from the bigger issues of non availability of toilets, water, and having to sleep in the open, there are smaller problems that people fail to notice. “For instance, if we have to cook something or make tea, we have to take out food portions from our polythene packets and then put them back in the vehicles,” said Davinder. “This is no way to live.”

Although Singh was not stopped on his journey from Pooranpur to Burari, others weren’t that lucky. Tajinder Singh, a member of the Trai Kisan Sangathan, said that they had left with all the protest paraphernalia including banners and poles, food, clothes, blankets, and other essentials on November 26 from Uddham Singh Nagar in tractors and vehicles. But were stopped at Rampur. The group had to camp there for two days before moving on again.

“After continuing our journey from Rampur on November 28, we learnt midway that protesters had gathered at Burari so we went there. We waited there for the government to address the issues of farmers but nothing happened. So, three days later, around 500 farmers from Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh left the grounds and came here to Ghazipur,” he said.