One tractor, one village: ‘Formula’ to keep stir numbers up

(This story originally appeared in on Feb 06, 2021)

GHAZIABAD: The number of farmers protesting at UP Gate has been dwindling ever since violence erupted on the streets of Delhi on Republic Day. While a number of important farmer unions have called off the agitation and are headed back home with their supporters, a faction wants to be here for the long run.

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait has proposed a formula to ensure that the protesters’ numbers at UP Gate remain consistent. He said the protest is going to be long-drawn and to maintain a constant presence of protesters at the site, he has proposed a formula – one tractor, one village – to the farmers. He said 15 people from a village will come at a time to the protest site in a tractor trolley and stay for 10 days. After this, another set will replace them.

Tikait said by following this method, protesting farmers will be able to attend to their agricultural and household duties and also participate in the protest.

Tikait has different reasons for putting forth the formula. “We are prepared to continue with the protest till October. Given the stance of the government, it looks like the protest will be a long-drawn one. Since thousands of farmers are camping at the site, it is only natural that their agriculture and household responsibility will get affected so I have proposed this which will ensure that a constant number of protesters always stay at the site,” he said.

Meanwhile, a 92-year old protester, Choudhary Sawa Chand Baliyan from Muzaffarnagar’s Munna Khera, arrived at UP Gate on his grandson’s back. Later, Tikait carried him to the protest site on his back. “He came all the way to UP Gate in a vehicle. But just before reaching the site, he said he wanted to walk but he was not in the condition to do so. Hence, I lifted him on my back,” said his grandson, Mohit Baliyan. The nonagenarian said: “I was a comrade of Mahendra Singh Tiakait and also participated in a number of protests with him. I wanted to come to UP Gate for long but the weather didn’t allow me. Today, I have come in support of chota Tikait.”





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