Life is not a bed of roses. This maxim we often hear in life but we can actually empathize with the actual core meaning when we face and experience it first hand.
Farmer Protest started in August 2020 but even after 5 months it is still running against the 3 Agricultural Laws which was passed by the Indian government. Protest has taken an ugly turn and is controversial after the violence that happened on 26th January in Delhi on Republic day.
Curious about the protest and to learn the ground realities, I decided to visit ground zero, the actual site of the protest. Below is my personal experience and personal opinion. Disclaimer – I am not affiliated to any political parties and I am neither a Bhakt or the so called anti-Bhakt. I wanted to see it as a neutral citizen of one of the largest democracies and peace loving nation.
5th February 2021, Singhu Border, GT Karnal Road
I started my journey from Patiala, Punjab at 4:00 PM and reached Singhu at 7:30 PM. There were several check points set up by Karnal Police and they wanted to make sure no anti socials with malicious intensions enter the protest site.
Since I reached the protest site after dusk, it was peaceful. I was shocked to imagine how the protestors were managing in this harsh cold winter. I started strolling inside the camp and I saw countless tractors and trollies parked with people who have made it their makeshift abode. Literally, protesters were living in it. Tractors and Trollies were loaded with daily useable goods like food, clothes, blankets etc. It gave the fair idea that the farmers came prepared from the distant villages of Punjab, Haryana etc for their rights and demands.
Internet which has become a basic needs of netizens in the 21st century has been disable. Is this justified or not, it is a debate for some other time. The authorities are trying to minimize the fake news from these sites.
Many organizations both local and international are trying on their capacities and providing free shelters to the protesters. Free food is also distributing by those organizations to the protesting citizens (assuming all are farmers).
Talk With the Local Citizen
Near the stage of Kisan Ekta Morcha, I met a person who was speaking Haryanvi (local language) and in terms of anonymity agreed to talk to me. He had his own point of views about the protest. He said the nearby residents are not facing any type of problems from the protesting farmers. Instead, he claimed that the neighbouring residents visiting the protesting site to avail free langar (food) that was distributed for the participating farmers.
Time to Nap
At a quarter past midnight, when the movement of people at the protesting site was minimal, I decided to take some rest in the tent of a Khalsa Aid. They have arranged comfortable sleeping bags and mattresses for visitors at the site of protest.
Our Take
In a free nation, everyone has the right to protest peacefully. We also respect the intention of the government. We really hope the bill really helps our farmers who are the backbone of our economy. We just pray, in all these protests, the organizations whose propaganda is to divide the citizen and nation do not take advantage of this tiff. We can just wait and hope that the farmers plea is heard and address and government of India do their best to resolve this stalemate.
