Expressions of solidarity with Indian farmers in their fight against the three centre-approved agriculture laws began flooding social media way before December 5, 2020 even began.
Although the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) had called for effigy burning of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and billionaires Ambani and Adani on Saturday, farmer supporters – who only keep growing in number – burnt busts as early as December 4 night.
AIPWA burning effigy of Modi today at Moulali Kolkata, to protest against the farm bill and in solidarity with the fighting peasants at Delhi. pic.twitter.com/MlqCUhhde9
— Atanu Chakravarty (@atanuchakravart) December 4, 2020
People from Maharashtra and Gujarat set out to travel to Delhi on motorcycles. However, while Maharashrta’s supporters went out in a crowd, the lone supporter from Gujarat Dharam Hadvani, was stopped in the morning outside Ahmedabad’s Gandhi Ashram and detained by state police. Dharam is fortunately still on his way to Delhi.
किसान आंदोलन के समर्थन में #Maharashtra के वर्धा जिले से सैकड़ों की संख्या में वर्धा प्रहार जनशक्ति पक्ष के कार्यकर्ता मोटर साइकल से दिल्ली रवाना
वीडियो चेतन बेले, वर्धा #FarmerProtest #FarmLaws pic.twitter.com/dlGSSmJXbG— GaonConnection (@GaonConnection) December 4, 2020
#FarmersProtest Why is the state afraid of a young man? Dharam Hadvani started his yatra on a motorbike yesterday from Somnath. Today he was detained in front of Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad for supporting the farmers’ demands. Finally he is on his way to Delhi border. @devdesai74 pic.twitter.com/jV9pIpKIm3
— Shabnam Hashmi (@ShabnamHashmi) December 5, 2020
Activists burning govt, corporate effigy #FarmerProtests #Tractor2Twitter @Tractor2twitr pic.twitter.com/kZVD0begWO
— Neel Kamal (@NeelkamalTOI) December 5, 2020
In response to the call for Saturday’s protest, farmers units in Tamil Nadu had circulated well in advance. Accordingly, organisations like the DMK came out on the streets to decry the three farm laws – the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
At ariyalur protest against farmers laws @sivasankar1ss#DMKwithFarmers #DMKProtest pic.twitter.com/Yw0wESOWEI
— A.S.SANTHOSH (@santhoshkumar62) December 5, 2020
Farmers were not the only ones who prepared in advance. Delhi police at Singhu border created a makeshift Olympic race course with their plethora of cement barricades lined with barbed wire.
Police Barricading & placing of barbed wires in progress, just outside Singhu Border, towards Delhi. Are they going expecting trouble ? #FarmLaws #FarmProtests pic.twitter.com/QCXblkUuMU
— Ramandeep Singh Mann (@ramanmann1974) December 5, 2020
Massive police deployment and barricading at Singhu Border. Is this how a country treats their farmers?
No Barricade can stop the wave of farmers. The Govt should fulfill their demands.
Double standards of @BJP4India Govt will haunt them for a long time.#FarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/H1QjnxCXrN
— Subrat Chhatoi (@subratchhatoi) December 5, 2020
Meanwhile, people in Brisbane, Australia also expressed solidarity with farmers of India. Previously, farmers had also received supporters from Italy, Canada and similar countries.
Today in Brisbane, Australia
Farmers Protest #TakeBackFarmLaws #8_दिसंबर_भारत_बन्द pic.twitter.com/eqI4VKyvfb— Muskaan Sidhu (@Muskaan72317167) December 5, 2020
Organisations like Youth For Swaraj also kept morale high by circulating year-old videos of musicians rapping about farmers issues.
“Farmers of our country unite for we have nothing to lose but our chains.” -Srinivasan Iyer (EPR) and his rap Tobe Ekla Chalo Re.#Youth4Farmers #FarmersProtest #StandWithFarmers pic.twitter.com/6Ev5ylDYW5
— Youth For Swaraj (@Youth4Swaraj) December 4, 2020
Other than protests, the All India Parents Association in Delhi issued a press release on Saturday asking Modi to resolve farmers’ issues to prevent any adverse effect on children’s education many of whom have also participated in recent events.
The complete statement of the organisation can be seen below:
Earlier on December 4, the Editors Guild of India (EGI) raised concerns about the news coverage of the farmers’ protests in Delhi, wherein certain media called protesters “Khalistanis,” “ anti-nationals”, and similar names.
On the same day, the Communist Party of India (CPI) Mumbai council carried out demonstrations in support of the farmers’ agitation at Kotwal garden in Dadar West.
Related:
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Go ahead, call me a Khalistani!
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Farmers Protest: Bad journalism is doing more damage than water cannons!