Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, December 30

Last week, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi transferred the first tranche of funds under the PM-Kisan Yojana directly to farmers’ accounts, little did he know that these very funds would be ploughed back to sustain the protests being held on the outskirts of New Delhi.

On December 24, Rs 2000 each was directly credited to the accounts of 9 crore farmers. This was the first part of the Rs 6,000 annual package to be given to farmers under the Union Government’s mega-outreach plan.

Don’t help, repeal laws

Earlier, whenever villagers would receive the PM-Kisan scheme grant, they would feel happy. Now they are livid. They do not need this compassion. All they need is repeal of the farm laws. — Sehaj Pal Singh Randhawa, law student

A majority of villagers who received this money were quick to transfer it to the accounts of those protesting along Delhi’s borders.

Satbir Singh Sultani, general secretary, Punjab Kirti Kissan Union, led the way by donating Rs 2,000 to the community kitchen at Singhu. “We have enough funds to sustain ourselves. But then every bit counts.”

Sultani said he had received reports that hundreds of villagers were donating money received under the Central Government scheme to ensure ration at the kitchens did not run out.

Septuagenarian Hardyal Singh of Dorangla village, located near the international border, said he had transferred the money to his son’s account who is protesting in New Delhi.

“On the one hand we are fighting a proxy war instigated by Pakistan, but on the other our own PM is waging a bigger war against us. We do not need his money. We have better ways to keep the agitation going,” he said.

Sehaj Pal Singh Randhawa, a law student hailing from Khunda village, near Dhariwal, said he had been part of the Delhi protest for the past 15 days and was amazed at the farmers’ resolve to go in for a protracted battle.

“Never had I seen such determination and fortitude among my farming brethren. Earlier, whenever villagers would receive grants from the PM-Kisan scheme, they would feel happy. Now they are livid. They do not need this compassion. All they need is a total repeal of the farm laws,” he said.