In a conversation with a News Site, near Singhu border, a leader of BKU asserted that the farmers’ movement has grown stronger even after the episode of the Republic Day.  The farmers’ movement has been going on for more than 85 days.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Sidhupur calmly stated, “The government is diverting our focus.” He further added, “We are now occupied with providing legal aid and support to over a hundred arrested people, a majority of whom are innocent.”

Also See: An overview of Farmers’ protests-role of Charan Singh

Admitting that the events of January 26 were a big jolt to the movement, the leader of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), Jagjit Dallewal, said that they are continuously working towards making this agitation even “stronger”.  He, along with other farmer-leaders, had a run-in with a journalist from a big media house accused of portraying the farmers’ movement in a “bad light”.

“The events of January 26 have undoubtedly dealt a big blow to the movement, but we are mobilizing more and more people. In the coming days, the movement will emerge stronger,” he added.

Dallewal stated, “Our movement faced a setback on January 26. It came as a big jolt to all of us. But now we are making this movement stronger. More and more people from Punjab are joining us. Not just Punjab of course, but Haryana and Uttar Pradesh’s farmers are also gathering in large numbers, more than before. The response to the call of a nationwide chakka jaam and the rail roko programme has been good. It was after January 26 that these calls were made.”

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

He further added, “In Rajasthan, farmers also blocked toll plazas after January 26, which means that the movement is ongoing. Even in Uttar Pradesh, farmers were not allowed to mobilize, but in seven districts, they managed to do it despite the state pressure. All this shows that the farmers’ movement is on track.”

He also elaborated, “I believe that the support for this movement will be even stronger now. Earlier, people spoke only against the three black laws. Now, people are also against the dirty, repressive tricks of this government. Everyone is aware of the conspiracy the government tried to hatch on January 26, to malign the movement.”