Long Thread
2 years ago, today farmers started towards Delhi !
The complete Story behind #FarmersProtest, from 25 Feb 2020 to 11 January 2022 !
Did you know #FarmersProtest was going to start on 20’th March, which got delayed to 25/26’th Nov !
What happened in #FarmersProtest
2 years ago, today farmers started towards Delhi !
The complete Story behind #FarmersProtest, from 25 Feb 2020 to 11 January 2022 !
Did you know #FarmersProtest was going to start on 20’th March, which got delayed to 25/26’th Nov !
What happened in #FarmersProtest
In it's, 2020 report CACP recommended restricting MSP procurement from #Punjab & #Haryana. This was taken seriously by many; Balbir Singh Rajewal was amongst them; in Feb 2020, we invited MLA's from all Punjab political parties to Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh, & shared our concerns 
.@sunilkjakhar, then president of Congress; @Sandhwan, current Punjab Assembly Speaker, & many MLA's of Congress, AAP & SAD assured us that they are with the farmers, & will fight tooth & nail against any move by the Center Govt, to curtail MSP procurement from Punjab & Haryana !
With Commission of Agriculture Costs and Prices recommending to restrict Min Support Procurement from #Punjab & #Haryana in the 2020 report, Center Govt also wrote an official letter to @capt_amarinder, asking him to curtail MSP procurement, which Punjab Govt objected strongly !
After informing the political parties about the impending danger, Punjab & Haryana farmers started to mobilize, with the goal of marching to #Delhi on 20 March, the call was given, interactions with farm groups started, but then #corona stuck, leaving no option, but to wait !
On 5'th March, farmer unions of entire Haryana assembled in Haryana regarding the call of "Delhi March" on 20'th March, where Gurnam Singh Charuni supported the "Delhi Chalo". Preparations were done, but on 17'th march the Delhi March was shelved, on account of #corona epidemic.
Then, on 5'th June Modi Govt brought #agri ordinances, this was what farmers were fearing; opening #agri trade outside APMC (without any fee/tax), #agri trade in mandis would invite 6.5% tax in Haryana & 8.5% tax in Punjab i.e. slowly the APMC's will die & Pvt players will rule !
On 20'th July, farmers across Punjab and Haryana, took out a tractor march in the entire state, lakhs of farmers responded to the #TractorMarch call, thousands of tractors were on the road on that day, the response was unimaginable for everyone, specially the Govt.
On 20'th July, it was clear that farmers were not happy with the #farm ordinances, which Modi Govt was trying to bulldoze through. The palpable anger of farmers came out in the form of thousands of tractors in the entire length and breadth of the states of Punjab and Haryana.
The message that #farm ordinances will hurt the farmers, was spreading like wild fire in Punjab & Haryana, to register their opposition to the #farm ordinances, farm unions decided to stage protests on 15'th August, Independence Day with black flags at all district headquarters !
In the peak #corona time, lakhs of farmers came on the roads on 15'th August to register their protests against the #farm ordinances; farmers came out in large numbers in the #corona epidemic, the same #corona epidemic, which the Govt thought, would limit farmers movement !
On 10 Sept 2020, there was a big Farmer Rally organized in #Pipli #Kurukshetra, where farmers wanted to voice their opposition towards the 3 #farm ordinances. Haryana Govt stopped the farmers towards moving towards the rally, angered farmers "jammed" the Delhi-Chandigarh highway
Despite the severe opposition of the farmers to the farm ordinances, Modi Govt went ahead, and bulldozed the entire process. Lok Sabha approved the bills on 17 Sept 2020 and the Rajya Sabha on 20 Sept 2020. The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, gave his assent on 27 Sept 2020.
After that 32 farm unions of Punjab agreed to come on one platform, with the sole aim to pressurize the Modi Govt to repeal the #FarmLaws. Then, #Punjab farmers planned rail roko from 23 September, which lasted for 2 months. Residences and Offices of M.P/MLA's were gheraoed !
On 8'th Oct #Punjab #Haryana #Rajasthan UP farmers had a joint meeting in Kurukshetra to chart a common strategy for future agitation. In this meeting it was decided that on 3’rd November G.T Road will be jammed for 4 hours near Taraori in #Karnal.
Members of 30 farmers’ outfits in Punjab on Saturday decided to lift the rail blockade on November 23, after nearly two months of their protest against the Centre’s new agriculture laws .
On 27 October Sanyukt Kisan Morcha was created at Gurudwara Rakab Ganj:-
-Chakka Jaam on 5 Nov (12~4)
-Delhi Chalo Agitation on 26~27 Nov, where, farmers across India, will come to Delhi, to protest against #FarmLaws
-A national coordination committee of 5 members has constituted
-Chakka Jaam on 5 Nov (12~4)
-Delhi Chalo Agitation on 26~27 Nov, where, farmers across India, will come to Delhi, to protest against #FarmLaws
-A national coordination committee of 5 members has constituted
After the 26'th January "Delhi Chalo" call by Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, preparations started on war footing; message that the #FarmLaws were against the farmers had already percolated, the farmers were ready, & on 25'th Nov, the first barricade at Ambala was demolished by the farmers
After the Ambala barricade was broken, Kurukshetra, ,Panipat, Murthal barricades were broken; concrete slabs weighing 500 tons were moved by bare hands, dumpers filled with sand were pushed aside by joining 4~5 tractors. Hearing this, Punjab #farmers broke the Shambhu barricade.
When the news spread, that #farmers have broken barricades on the G,T Road, & are moving towards Delhi; farmers started breaking barricades from the Khannauri-Jind border of Punjab and Haryana. By this time, lakhs of farmers were moving Delhi, & these farmers were unstoppable !
Govt tried hard to stop farmers, they used water canons, tear gas, lathis; except firing, the Police used every trick in the book to stop the farmers, but, farmers were in "do or die" mode; concrete slabs of the size of rooms, dumpers, barricades were removed as they were nothing
Farmers used to change lanes, when the forward party used to intimate them about the barricades on the lane they were driving in, "tochan" chains were always ready; by the time Police used to know, that the farmers have changed lanes, the tractor-trolleys used to race ahead !
Farmers moving from G.T Road side reached #Singhu, the last barricade, the farmers moving from the Khannauri-Jind border side came a day after at #Tikri. At Singhu, it was decided that farmers will not go to Burari Ground, but will choke the Singhu border; same happened at Tikri.
After the decision to choke #Delhi; #farmers offloaded their food, tents, langars started; on that day majority of the farmers slept in the open, some in trolleys, some in tents. The atmosphere was electric, after beating the entire Govt machinery, farmers had reached their goal.
Next day, farmers who had started from the Khannauri-Jind border side reached #Tikri, & Delhi was choked from the Tikri Rohtak side also. Now, supplies started poring in from Punjab & Haryana; tents, food grains, quilts, wood for fuel, milk, cooked langars, vegetables & much more
#Farmers from Uttarakhand & U.P started arriving at #Ghazipur border, and they pitched their tents at Ghazipur border. In days, the Ghazipur border protest site choked Delhi from another flank. At this point, Modi Govt realized that it was "Game On", and the farmers are all in !!
After 4 days at #Singhu border, 24 hoursX7 daysx365 days #langars started; farmers knew that their protest was not a 1~2 day affair, they knew that it will be a long haul, cause it was often said that once P.M Modi decides, there is no power on earth that can make him back track.
Milk started coming from Punjab & Haryana, #farmers used to collect milk from the villages, bring 300 Km to #Singhi and #Tikri border, from where the protesting farmers used to get milk. The Govt had never dreamt, the "resolve", the planning, which the farmers brought with them !
In a matter of days, farmers made #Singhu #Tikri #Ghazipur borders their home; "washing machine langars" started, farmers would give their soiled clothes at these "washing machine langars", they were washed, and given back after drying; yes, you need to iron them yourselves 😜
We were overwhelmed by the support; daily thousands of mattresses, quilt, warm inner wear was reaching the farmers; all you had to do was distribute them. The best part was people were reaching out to us, asking what do we need, & in a couple of days, the stuff magically appeared
People wanted to help farmers, and used to bring stuff like tooth brush, soap, tooth paste, mosquito repellant, shampoos, slippers etc. It was if the hand of god was with the farmers, and god himself was helping us. Once, I saw a gentleman bring a Tata 407 full of odomos, a truck
And then, #Rajasthan #farmers came, they reached #Shahjahanpur at Rajasthan-Haryana border, and camped on the highway, closing the Delhi-Jaipur highway. Farmers were from Shri Ganganagar & Hanumangarh areas, were in the lead, and in a matter of days, a 5 Km long tent city came up
The tent city of farmers at Shahjahanpur border came up in just 5 days, with langars, hot water contraptions. With Delhi choked at #Singhu #Tikri #Ghazipur, the farmers planned to break the barricades installed by Haryana Police at #Shahjahanpur, and move ahead towards Haryana !
On 31 Dec 2020, farmers broke the barricades at #Shahjahanpur at Rajasthan-Haryana border & entered Haryana; their goal was to reach Gurgaon, & choke Delhi from the Gurgaon border, at Rewari Police fired indiscriminate tear gas shells on the farmers, & erected concrete barricades
By the first week of January 2021, the Tikri #FarmersProtest side had stretched to 35 Km !
By the first week of January 2021, the #Singhu #FarmersProtest site had swelled to 30 Km !!
Another view of the #Tikri #FarmersProtest site, which had stretched to 35 Km by first week of January 2021 !!
@boxervijender
@boxervijender
By the first week of January 2021, youngsters even had their own gyms at #Singhu border ! #farmersprotest_victoryday
@boxervijender
@boxervijender
There is no doubt that locals at #FarmersProtest sites of Delhi borders were inconvenienced, but they understood that #farmers were left with no choice, but to come to Delhi, at Modi ji's doorstep' they were all praise for the farmers !
Listen, what this lady had to say at Tikri
Listen, what this lady had to say at Tikri
Farmers had started joking that even their marriage proposals will come to #Tikri #Singhu #Ghazipur #Shahjahanpur #FarmersProtest sites, cause they were in for a long haul, were ready to spend years at borders, till the time Modi Ji gets in his skull, that farmers will not relent
The resolve of farmers, their families, their sons & daughters could be seen, when grooms started putting "Kisaani" flags on their vehicles; when the bride and grooms started donating their monetary gifts to the "Kisan Andolan" !
The resolve of farmers, their families, their sons & daughters could be seen, when grooms started putting "Kisaani" flags on their vehicles; when the bride and grooms started donating their monetary gifts to the "Kisan Andolan" !
The resolve of farmers, their families, their sons & daughters could be seen, when grooms started putting "Kisaani" flags on their vehicles; when the bride and grooms started donating their monetary gifts to the "Kisan Andolan" !
And then Actress Kangana Ranaut started speaking against the farmers, she started saying that women were paid to come and protest at #FarmersProtest sites, she was replied in kind by sons of farmers, stationed at the borders.....do listen....
The mood at #FarmersProtest was electric, and the game was just starting; the game was who will throw in the towel first.....the farmers or the Govt ?
#Wheat #Milk #Vegetables were being collected from every village in Haryana & Punjab, and was systematically sent to the #FarmersProtest site !! The Govt did not factor in the the ingenuity of farmers, the skill by which the #FarmersProtest was being managed, Govt was flummoxed !
When the news of this historic #FarmersProtest reached foreign shores, foreign farmers also stood up with the Indian farmers !
@NYFarmer
@NYFarmer
NRI support to #FarmersProtest was immense, they rallied with the farmers, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the farmers !
The children of farmers studied at #FarmersProtest sites, sometimes you would feel overwhelm of the conviction of farmers at #FarmersProtest sites.
When we used to see 80 year old "bebes' at #FarmersProtest sites, the only thing that used to come to mind was, that come what may, this sacrifice will not go empty, #FarmLaws will be repealed !!
After some time, farmers started building "Pakke Shed" at #FarmersProtest sites, now the heels were dug in, and dug in firmly.
The fear of the Govt was such, that even after assurances given by the farmers that we will not enter Delhi, Police kept on increasing the barricades; this is #Singhu border !
In a month, #Singhu #FarmersProtest site started looking like a village, a very big village !
The spirit of farmers at #FarmersProtest sites was such that, a fleeting glance, would energize a person for the entire day !!
The spirit of farmers at #FarmersProtest sites was such that, a fleeting glance, would energize a person for the entire day !!
When the farmers were firmly entrenched at #Singhu #Tikri #Shahjahanpur #Ghazipur #FarmersProtest sites, the farmers from western U.P started solidarity "dharnas" in their respective areas, we were often invited to these "dharnas", where I saw & felt real bonding between farmers.
This was where Sanyukta Kisan Morcha held its meeting, this place was "Kajaria Tiles", the owner of this tiles showroom had given his entire show room and godown the the farmers, to use it for meetings etc. #FarmersProtest
Due to rains and no service being provided by the Haryana Govt, the farmers had to repair the roads themselves, farmers handled the sanitation issue themselves, farmers even had to take care of the sewer system themselves. This is #Singhu border. #FarmersProtest
There were innumerable incident of fires at the #FarmersProtest sites, but by the grace of god, farmers did not waiver, they did not dither from their path in the year long #FarmersProtest !
For one year farmers braved the biting cold, they endured the scorching summer heat, they lived in rain water upto their knees, they braved storms; and they did not once said "enough is enough"; yes the God was with the farmers, the God was guiding #FarmersProtest !
For one year farmers braved the biting cold, they endured the scorching summer heat, they lived in rain water upto their knees, they braved storms; and they did not once said "enough is enough"; yes the God was with the farmers, the God was guiding #FarmersProtest !
Tikri border started resembling a village ! #FarmersProtest
The atmosphere around the stage at #Singhu border was the place, where every #farmer used to go once a day, from here all the important announcements were made, all farm leaders used to address the farmers from the main stage, This was the heart of #Singhu @FarmersProtest site !
This is how "R.O Water boys" served the protesting farmers 24x7 at #FarmersProtests, they supplied RO water day & night at #Tikri ! There are thousands of such stories, "Sewa" of such Bravehearts is the reason that today you hear the beats of bhangra at Delhi borders. Full Salute
Farmers take at #FarmersProtest sites was crystal clear, "We will return back to our homes, the day the #FarmLaws are repealed, else we r ready to sit at the borders till eternity". Farmers had no ambiguity that the #FarmLaws are detrimental, no ambiguity at all, none at all !!!!
This was the famous KMP tractor march, such events infused energy in the #FarmersProtests !!
Locals from the villages supported #FarmersProtest in a big way, this is a youngster vrom Asoda village, who provided "water sewa" to the farmers in #FarmersProtest !
This is how farmers, used to wash their clothes at #Tikri border, this while the Government propaganda & some media outlets were busy portraying the picture, that farmers are at #FarmersProtest sites for a picnic !!
And not to forget, during #FarmersProtest, "all" Tolls were made free by the farmers in the entire State of Punjab, Haryana and some parts of Rajasthan; point worth mentioning is that no Toll was made free in the state of Uttar Pradesh !!
The evenings at #FarmersProtest sites used to echo with "gurbaani !!
BJP mantris & netas, had a hard time during #FarmersProtest; no BJP mantri or neta could preside over any Govt function; neither could they move freely in the rural areas. Once, farmers did not let the helicopter of Haryana C.M, to land in Karnal; the message was loud & clear !
Morning round #Tikri. Despite the fact that there were many problems living on the roads, u used to see happy faces at #FarmersProtest sites, there were no complains, no despair, but only the resolve that "one day we will prevail & we will go back, when the #FarmLaws are repealed
We will not go back till the time #FarmLaws are repealed, we will sit here at #Tikri for another year, and if need be till 4 years, but our resolve is unshakeable, said these farmers, who were preparing dinner at #Tikri border #FarmersProtest site !!
Youth of #Punjab gave apt reply to those characters, who used to parrot that "drugs" has finished the fighting spirit of Punjab, #FarmersProtest ended the propaganda peddled by such characters.
Punjab singers contributed to #FarmersProtest in a big way, they sang for the farmers, they encouraged the farmers, they stayed put with the farmers !
This was how farmers prepared for the lathis of the police, this was how they came to Delhi #FarmersProtest, little did the Govt know that the farmers are the harbingers of improvisation !!
The biting cold of January did not dilute the conviction of farmers, who were protesting against the #FarmLaws !! This is #Singhu border #FarmersProtest site !!!!
Farmers were coming to Delhi to convey to the Govt, that they r against #FarmLaws & Police was Tear Gassing them indiscriminately, some times, it felt that we were in the war zone; all this because the Govt wanted to bulldoze #FarmLaws, without any consultation with the #farmers
#Singhu #FarmersProtest site was a city within itself !!
Babbu Mann's reply to Govt propaganda machine during #FarmersProtest was epic !! @BabbuMaan stood like a rock, supporting #farmers, encouraging them to carry the fight till its conclusion....
Such were the preparations at #FarmersProtest sites !!
At nights fires were the only thing that kept the #farmers warm, & the Govt propaganda machine assisted by some media entities shamelessly were peddling lies that farmers are having a time of their lives at the #FarmersProtest sites. Such indifference, is rarely seen, very rarely
Such were the sights at #FarmersProtest sites, these scenes will live with me for the rest of my life !!!
Scenes, when #farmers reached their destination, after braving barricades, water canons, laathis; this was some sight, when the farmers reached #Singhu border ! #FarmersProtest
Living at #Singhu #Tikri #Shahjahanpur #FarmersProtest sites has been the best time of my life, this is when I bonded with my brothers, with my blood, with the Kisan Kaum; this is when I learnt that conviction & resolve can triumph over any adversary, any difficulty, any obstacle
There were time, when the Govt propaganda machinery peddled lies unabashedly, one such instance was when Govt claimed that farmers have to pay the mandi tax, so it is good, that the Govt is freeing #agri trading from taxes. This was our rebuttal, only @ndtv carried it. Thank you.
Daredevilry was seen everyday ! #FarmersProtest
Full salute to singers of Punjab, who stood in thick & thin, with the #farmers during the #FarmersProtest
& finally the day came, on 19'th November 2020, Modi Ji announced that his Govt will take back the #FarmLaws. On that day, farmers were vindicated, our 112 month "saadhna" bore fruit, farmers rejoiced, farmers celebrated, farmers danced, farmers prevailed !!
On 19'th Nov, when Modi ji took announced that Govt will repeal the #FarmLaws, there was only and only joy in the hearts of the #farmers; on that day we danced to our hearts content, that day will be etched on my memory till the time I die !! This is #Shahjahanpur #FarmersProtest
On 9'th December 2021, Modi Govt gave in writing that Govt will repeal the #FarmLaws ASAP, will take back the cases filed against the farmers during the #FarmersProtest, will form a committee to delve into the mechanism of providing legal sanctity to Minimum Support Price #crops.
On 11 Dec 2021, we came stated for our homes from #Singhu on our tractors-Trolleys, people were showering flowers on #farmers, This was the day, farmers dreamt of everyday, this was the days we used to talk about; the day, when farmers will go back to their homes, head held high.
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