A farmer gets vaccinated at Tikri on Saturday. Photo: Sumit Tharan

Jhajjar, April 24

The district administration finally succeeded in persuading protesting farmers camping at the Tikri border to get vaccinated against Covid. In all, 10 farmers received the jab at a vaccination booth today.

The booth was set up three days ago, but no farmer turned up during the first two days even as the number of farmers at the Tikri border continued to increase.

Purushottam Singh Gill, a leader of the BKU (Lakhowal), said: “In the Thursday’s meeting with administrative officials, farmers’ organisations had made it clear that they did not have a problem with anyone getting vaccinated. The outfits had also said they would not force anyone to get the jab. It would be a personal choice.”

He added many farmers had already got themselves vaccinated in Punjab.

The number of farmers is increasing at the Tikri and Singhu borders as the harvesting is over.

Civil Surgeon Dr Sanjay Dahiya said, “A team of doctors was in constant touch with protesting farmers and motivated them to get vaccinated. It is good some farmers have come forward, leading by example. It is hoped that the number will increase.” — TNS

Mukesh Tandon and Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Sonepat/Jhajjar, April 25

With Haryana Chief Minister authorising Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to take a call about the imposition of Section 144 of the CrPC to avoid public gatherings in their respective districts in view of the Covid pandemic, the development has put a question mark over the continuation of the farmers’ agitation with thousands of farmers camping at Singhu and Tikri borders for the past five months.

Sonepat DC Ashok Bansal said the prohibitory orders would be enforced on getting the directives from the government in black and white. “Thereafter, no one will be spared whether they are farmers or any others if they are found violating Section 144,” he added.

While Jhajjar DC Jitendra Dahiya said Section 144 was already in force in the district following the farmers’ agitation and the new directives were for crowded places. He avoided answering the question about whether the prohibitory orders applied to protesting farmers at Tikri border or not.

Meanwhile, Pargat Singh, a BKU (Rajewal) leader while reacting to the CM directives about Section 144, said it might be a new plot of the state government to spoil their agitation which was getting stronger with every passing day.

“We are not afraid of such orders and will not move back without getting the three farm laws repealed. The government is now under pressure and wants to instigate us to indulge in violence, but we will not do so even when the police cane charge us. Our protest will continue in a peaceful manner until the demands are met,” Singh added.

Mentions articles from newspapers to give it authenticity

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 25

Amarveer Kaur (17) from Dasuya, Hoshiarpur, has made her presence felt everywhere, including overseas with her book ‘Inquilab 2020’.

The book features various events of farmers’ protest so that future generations can read about the struggle of the farming community. This book is based on research conducted on the Indian Peasants Movement (Kisan Ekta Morcha) from September 2020 to December 2020.

In the book, Amarveer has mentioned articles and edits from various newspapers to give it authenticity and more weightage. She has documented day-to-day events and remembers all dates by heart.

The 17-year-old has also mentioned other issues, which are prevalent in Punjab. Amarveer, who initially planned to write the book in Punjabi, said, “In Punjab, we all know what is going on. This is not only for us, but for those who reside abroad as well.”

An excerpt from the book reads: “Farmers are struggling since September 15 against agricultural ordinances (now laws), the fear of which shall snatch their livelihood in the coming decade. The year 2020, proved to be one of the worst years of civilisation. It did no good, but eventually gave momentum to the farmers’ revolution of 2020. Farmers have stood against the injustice for almost 73 years after Independence and before. It is one of the most revolutionary movement in which, not only men, but women participated, along with poor and rich, young and old. In my words, it’s going to be the most dramatic revolution in an independent democratic rule, where, representatives of people try to become rulers and henceforth, plan to become dictators.”

She said she was trying to know and understand the world and things around both analytically and emotionally.

An allrounder

• Amarveer Kaur (in pic) studies in Class XII (non-medical stream). Since her very first step into the school, she has been taking part in debates, declamations and sporting activity
• She secured 91.6 per cent in Class X and participated in state-level games. In 2017, she bagged gold and bronze medals in swimming competition during Punjab State Games (Khelo India School Games)
• The momentum continued in 2018 and she was again selected for state-level games. Apart from swimming, she loves to play chess

struggle continues: Farmers stage a dharna at the Tikri border. Photo: Sumit Tharan

Tribune News Service

Sonepat, April 25

The farmers’ protest at the Singhu and Tikri borders completed 150 days on Sunday.

“Our protest is an example of unity and commitment towards a just cause. The Centre tried several tactics to defame the protest, but farmers held their ground during the past 150 days.

“They will not step back without getting the three farm laws repealed,” said Pargat Singh, a leader of the BKU (Rajewal).

Other Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders said farmers had already won the battle ethically and morally by protesting peacefully for five months. “The victory will be complete once the Centre repeals the three farm laws and assures legal guarantee on the MSP,” said Dr Darshan Pal, an SKM leader.

Another SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said farmers had already opened one side of the road for emergency services in view of the rising Covid cases and cleaned it today, but barricades put up by the Delhi Police had not yet been removed.

On the KMP expressway, meanwhile, the authorities tried to re-start toll plazas again today.

Gurnam Singh Chaduni, a BKU leader, said: “No toll will be charged till farmers are protesting. If the state government and toll operators try to charge the toll, they will face protest by farmers.”

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, April 25

The surge in Covid cases has failed to deter farmers from joining in large numbers at protest sites across Sangrur and Barnala. At many places, protesters are terming the Covid surge as an excuse by the government to weaken their agitation. The shortage of medical oxygen has become the latest ammunition against the protest, they claim.

No dip in numbers

Our protest has been going on for the past over 200 days and we have never seen a dip in the number of protesters. — Baljit Kaur, BKU (Ugrahan) Activist

Apart from protesting at the Delhi borders against central agricultural laws, farmers are up in arms against the tardy lifting of wheat in various grain markets of Punjab.

“Farmers continue to throng all protest sites, even though the agitation has been long and indefinite. We have not missed the protest even for a day and the number of participants continues to rise,” said Narayan Dutt, a farmer activist from Barnala.

Initially only elders and youngsters were visible at protest sites, but as they have to agitate against authorities to ensure timely purchase of their wheat, many families are sending their all members.

“Protests against the slow purchase of wheat are also happening simultaneously. The participation of farmers and their family members continues to get better,” said Baljit Kaur, a woman activist of BKU (Ugrahan) protesting at a petrol pump near Lehal Khurd village of Sangrur. Jagdev Singh Mangwal, a farmer protesting in front of a BJP leader’s house at Sangrur, says: “We have blocked almost all roads in Punjab and in coming days, we would block the remaining roads of other states too.”

Two of the jawans, Sepoys Parabjit Singh and Amardeep Singh, belonged to Punjab

wo of the jawans, Sepoys Parabjit Singh and Amardeep Singh, belonged to Punjab. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 26

In an unfortunate incident, six soldiers from the Punjab Regiment lost their lives in Siachen Glacier as the ice face on which they were present, carved in.

Two of the jawans, Sepoys Parabjit Singh and Amardeep Singh, belonged to Punjab.

“Saddened to lose 6 brave Jawans of Punjab Regiment in Siachen due to ice calving,” Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh tweeted late this evening.

“Government of Punjab will provide Rs 50 lakhs ex-gratia and a job to their next of kin. My condolences to their families,” he added.

The Punjab Regiment draws the bulk of its manpower from Punjab and some adjoining areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu region.

Siachen is known as the world’s highest battlefield and is characterised by extreme climate, deep snow, blizzards and temperature ranging up to minus 40 degrees Celsius.

In the past, there have been several incidents when troops, deployed at altitudes up to 21,000 feet, have fallen victim to climate and other natural calamities.

Girl says noble deed of her father left her overwhelmed with joy; district collector hails gesture

Photo for representation. — PTI

Neemuch, April 26

Moved by the plight of COVID-19 patients and the growing scramble for medical oxygen, a farmer from Neemuch district in Madhya Pradesh has donated Rs 2 lakh he had set aside for his daughter’s lavish marriage to the local administration for buying the life-saving gas.

Champalal Gurjar, who hails from Gwal Deviyan village, has handed over a cheque for Rs 2 lakh to district collector Mayank Agrawal for buying two cylinders of medical oxygen one for the district hospital and another for Jeeran Tehsil where he lives.

Gurjar, who survives on farming, said he raised his daughter Anita with great care and wished that her marriage, which took place on Sunday, was a grand ceremony.

However, the pandemic situation made Gurjar change his mind at the last moment.

“….So to make my daughter’s marriage memorable I donated two lakh to the district administration so that they can buy two oxygen cylinders,” he added.

Anita said the noble deed of her father left her overwhelmed with joy.

“Right now, there is a dire need for medical oxygen given the surge in COVID-19 cases,” she said.

Collector Agrawal praised Gurjar’s gesture.

“If others take a cue from the farmer and donate, the fight against the pandemic will become a lot easier,” he said.

As of Sunday, Madhya Pradesh’s caseload stood at 4,99,304 and toll to 5,133, as per the state health department. PTI

New Delhi, April 26

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed single crystal blades that are used in helicopter engines and it has supplied 60 of them to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the company’s indigenous helicopter development program, an official statement said on Monday.

Single crystal blades—having complex shape and geometry—are manufactured out of nickel-based superalloys that are capable of withstanding high temperatures, it noted.

Helicopters used in strategic and defence applications need compact and powerful aero-engines for their reliable operation at extreme conditions, the statement mentioned.

“The DRDO has developed single crystal blades technology and supplied 60 of these blades to HAL as part of their indigenous helicopter development program for helicopter engine application,” it stated.

The DRDO will develop total five sets (300 blades) of single crystal blades. 

While one set (60 blades) has been delivered to HAL, the remaining four will be “completed in due course”, the statement said.

This single crystal blades technology has been developed by the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), one of the DRDO’s laboratories, it noted.      

A few countries such as the US, the UK, France and Russia have the capability to design and manufacture single crystal components, the statement said. — PTI

Already, farmers on the Ghazipur border are distributing food at the bus terminals, railways stations and hospitals in Delhi

Meals being distributed at the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) is providing cooked meals to COVID-19 patients quarantined at home, in New Delhi. PTI

New Delhi, April 26

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farm unions spearheading the agitation against the Centre’s three agricultural laws, on Monday said they will distribute food and essential goods to hospitals in the national capital.

According to a statement released by the SKM, farmers sitting on several borders of Delhi will distribute food packets and other important goods to hospitals in the city.

Already, farmers on the Ghazipur border are distributing food at the bus terminals, railways stations and hospitals in Delhi. The packing process will be started on Tuesday at the Singhu border as well, it stated.

A group at Tikri border announced essential services will be provided and asked people to contact the SKM if any needy person in Delhi is not able to get food, the statement said.

Volunteers are helping vehicles carrying medical oxygen or other services that are coming in the way of the farmers protest to reach the destination with full support, it added. PTI

In Delhi, the Railways has catered to the full demand of the UT Government for 75 COVID care coaches with a capacity of 1,200 beds

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 26

The Ministry of Railways on Monday announced that it has provisioned nearly 64,000 COVID care beds in around 4,000 coaches across the country, as it said so far 2,670 units have already been deployed at nine Railway stations.   

In an official release the public sector surface transport monolith said it was “swiftly meeting the demands made by the states and the Union Territories (UTs)” for the facility of COVID care coaches.

“As per currently available data, these facilities are seeing a steady intake registering a cumulative admission of 81 COVID patients and subsequent discharges of 22 patients. None of the facilities have registered any casualties,” it said. 

The updated position of the utility of these coaches positioned at the nine major stations in the States and UTs of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

In Delhi, the Railways has catered to the full demand of the UT Government for 75 COVID care coaches with a capacity of 1,200 beds. “Fifty coaches are positioned at Shakurbasti and 25 coaches at Anand Vihar stations. Presently, five patients were admitted at Shakurbasti and one patient discharged,” the Ministry said, adding that during the first wave last year (2020), 857 patients were admitted and discharged at Shakurbasti facility.

In Bhopal (MP), the Railway has deployed “20 Isolation Coaches” with a capacity of 292 beds, as 3 patients were admitted and are presently using the facility, it said, adding that in Nandrubar (Maharashtra), “24 Isolation Coaches with a capacity of 292 beds have been deployed. This facility has registered 73 admissions till date. Of the 55 patients’ admissions in the current COVID spell, 7 patients have been discharged.  4 new admissions were recorded during the day. The Unit has 326 beds still available for Covid patients”.

In UP, though coaches have not yet been requisitioned by the State government, 10 coaches each are placed at Faizabad, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Bareli and Nazibabad with a total capacity of 800 beds in 50 coaches, it said.