Farmers in Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday hoisted black flags atop their houses and vehicles and burnt effigies of the Union Government to mark the completion of six months of their agitation against the three contentious agri laws. Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders, spearheading the protest, said they were prepared to stretch the stir till 2024 when the next General Election is to be held.
Speaking at an event in Delhi, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said the SKM was prepared for a long haul.“There is no going back,” he stressed. Protesters at Singhu and Tikri, the epicentres of the farm movement, hoisted flags at the main stage, atop tents, bamboo huts and vehicles.
Rallies were held across Punjab with farmers sporting black bands on turbans. At some places, the protesters burnt effigies of senior BJP leaders. Political leaders in Punjab backed the farmers by hoisting black flags atop their houses.
While the Kirti Kisan Union held tractor marches, the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), All-India Kisan Federation, BKU (Rajewal) and BKU (Dakaunda) organised foot marches. In Phagwara, Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba) general secretary Satnam Singh Sahni claimed shopkeepers and traders too put up black flags outside their shops in solidarity with the farming community.
