Nearly 50 youths hailing from protesting farmer-families have come together to take on “misinformation” and “negative campaign” against the ongoing demonstrations in the capital round the clock. They have organized themselves and take turns to bust myths on different social media platforms, take questions and reply to them and counter all kinds of negative perceptions.

These youths say that because the elders in the family are not tech-savvy and are often unaware of the alleged slander, they have taken it upon themselves to engage with all those who doubt the motive of the campaign and feel that there is anything beyond a genuine anguish against the three proposed farm laws. Another reason, says this group, is that the traditional media has not been fair in reflecting their concerns and has largely focused on the inconvenience caused due to the agitation.

Harinder Happy, media coordinator and a PhD scholar said, “So we leverage our education and technical know-how to bust the lies spread by the government about farmers. Apart from people at Singhu and Tikri borders, we are also being helped by college and university students in large numbers, who are working round the clock and educating farmers back in Punjab and Haryana about the flaws in farms Bills.”

“The BJP IT cell is targeting urban middle-class people who are not aware of agrarian crisis or issues and they have been misled by TV channels. It is our responsibility to put the right perspective in front of people,” said Mr. Happy. Most of the youth have voluntarily come forward in support of farmers protesting at Delhi borders.

“I work in the IT sector and was working from home, so I have come here to support farmers. I keep watch on social media accounts and keep them safe from cyberattack. There have been several attempts to hack account,” said a volunteer, who wished not to be named.

More farmers on the way to join the  protests

On Tuesday, around 3,000 farmers have begun a vehicle rally from Nashik to Delhi, to join the farmers already protesting there. Around 7,000 more would also join tomorrow(wednesday). Reports said that the first group of farmers will stop for the night at Chandvad, a place 40 kilometres away from Nashik.

The rally is in solidarity with those protesting against Centre’s farm laws. Farmer leaders have said that they are always ready for dialogue as long as the government is offering a “concrete solution” but claimed that there is nothing new in the Centre’s latest letter to them seeking a date for the next round of talks.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said that the government, in its letter, mentioned that it wants to hold talks over its earlier proposal of amendments in the new agri-laws, which the farmers and many experts like Kaushik Basu suspect are replete with loopholes.

Tikait added, “On this issue (government’s proposal), we did not talk to them earlier. We are currently discussing how to respond to the government letter.”

The protests continue undeterred despite the cold wave prevalent around the national capital. The Safdarjung Observatory had confirmed about the cold wave.