Lucknow: Further intensifying their agitation, a large number of farmers, workers and women on Tuesday marked the 'Shahidi Diwas' of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru across Uttar Pradesh in protest against the three central farm laws. Called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM); the day-long event was organised by Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) along with Uttar Pradesh Kisan Sabha (UPKS) and Uttar Pradesh Khet Mazdoor Union (UPKMU).
On the occasion, cultural programmes were held, which were attended by the family members and relatives of the revolutionary Bhagat Singh, including farmers' leaders and youth and women activists. A large number of farmers took out marches in many districts of West, wearing yellow turbans to pay tribute to the martyrs.
Reinforcing their demands, the farmer leaders said: “The government will have to withdraw these laws and remove the misconception that the farmers will go back.” Farmers’ organisations have decided to observe different days with varying themes to boost and strengthen their agitation.
Meanwhile, a caravan of youth activists under the banner of BKU marched to the Ghazipur border of Delhi from Western Uttar Pradesh in response to the call of national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Monday to observe Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom day on March 23. The youngsters modelled themselves as the great freedom fighter and revolutionary in their attire and raised slogans against the three ‘black laws”.
“The Modi government is practicing the policy of divide and rule to discredit our movement. The young, however, will prove that they will combine the maturity of the elderly with the energy of the youth and make March 23 special. The government wants to demoralise the farmers’ agitation; albeit, such a day reminds the people of the significance of struggle,” Somveer, a young farmer of Muzaffarnagar told NewsClick, adding that all youngsters needed to be disciplined to ensure that their agitation cannot be crushed by the “fascist” government.
He said that farmers, and especially youth, need to draw lessons from Bhagat Singh who had created revolution despite lack of power and any resources.
Ram Bahadur Chaudhary, a farmer protesting at the Ghazipur border, said: "Bhagat Singh had dreamed of an India which was completely free from exploitation, tyranny and injustice. For them, freedom meant not freedom from the British government, but also from indigenous kings, landlords and feudal lords," Chaudhary told NewsClick, adding that they will make efforts to keep alive the spirit of Bhagat Singh and force the government to accept the demands of farmers who have been protesting at multiple borders in Delhi.
A group of students at Banaras Hindu University also observed the 'Martyrdom Day' of the three revolutionary heroes. The students said “Bhagat Singh had fought a long battle for the freedom of India against the British dictators. Now his followers are fighting against the existing dictatorship, communal and oppressive rulers of this era.”
Also, a five-day ‘padyatra’ culminated at Palwal border in Haryana on March 23 in the afternoon to mark the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru.
Read Also: Farm Laws: Farmers, Workers and Women Begin ‘Padayatra’ from Mathura
The padyatra witnessed the participation of women, workers, youth and several farmer peasants. The procession was led by Mukut Singh, Bharat Yadav of Uttar Pradesh Kisan Sabha, Brij Lal Bharati, general secretary of Uttar Pradesh Khet Mazdoor Union and Kiran Singh of All India Democratic Women's Association.
