Farmers organisation Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called upon all farmers to celebrate ‘Pagdi Sambhal Diwas’ on February 23, 2021 to assert the self-respect of farmers protesting the three anti-farmers-dubbed laws of the central government.
The name ‘Pagdi Sambhal’ also honours the peasant movement of 1907 known by the same name. At the time, leader Sardar Ajit Singh and uncle of Bhagat Singh led farmers against the oppression of British rule via three Acts:
- Doab Bari Act
- Punjab Land Colonisation Act
- Punjab Land Alienation Act
Together, these laws worked to rob future generations of land ownership while giving the government control over peasants, reducing them to sharecroppers.
Recognising that farmers in 2021 continue to fight against oppressive laws to assert their rights, farmer leaders called upon all citizens to participate in this program by placing poster-banners of Chacha Ajit Singh on tractors and other vehicles and by wearing regional turbans. The song ‘Pagdi Sambhal,’ written by Zhang Sial Editor Banke Dayal was a precursor to the peasant movement.
“The reflections of the movement that Chacha Ajit Singh had started at that time can be observed in this farmers’ movement as well. It is requested to all women and male protesters to celebrate this day by wearing a turban of any colour to assert self-respect,” said the SKM.
However, farmers reported four arrests of activists, who were pulled off Tamil Nadu Express on February 21 night when they boarded the train in Chennai Central to travel to New Delhi and support ongoing protests.
“SKM condemns the police high-handedness in Tamil Nadu where four activists had to find alternate means to travel to Delhi due to this,” said farmer leader Darshan Pal.
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