Farmers observe Black Day to mark 6 months of stir

New Delhi : Farmers raised black flags, shouted anti-government slogans, burnt effigies and took out protest marches as they observed ‘Black...

New Delhi : Farmers raised black flags, shouted anti-government slogans, burnt effigies and took out protest marches as they observed ‘Black Day’ on Wednesday to mark six months of their stir against the three Central farm laws.

There was a brief ruckus at the Ghazipur protest site where farmers burnt an effigy of the Central government amidst heavy police deployment.

Farmers put up black flags and burnt effigies of government leaders at three border points - Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri - to register their protest against the three laws as well as the Centre.
Avtar Singh Mehma, a senior farmer leader, said that black flags have been hoisted not only at the protest sites but also in villages in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Villagers have put up black flags on top of their houses as well as on their vehicles, he added.
All those in solidarity of the movement have donned black turbans and dupattas.
At the Singhu border, protestors gathered at the Kajaria Tiles office, held meetings, and took out a march towards the stage.
Another farmer leader Kulwant Singh said, "The protesters took out a march carrying black flags. They burnt Prime Minister Narendra Modi's effigy while raising slogans against the three farm laws.
On Tuesday, the National Human Rights Commission had issued notices to Delhi, UP, Haryana on alleged flouting of Covid norms by the protesting farmers. The Delhi Police has urged people not to hold gatherings due to the Covid-19 situation and the ongoing lockdown, It is keeping a tight vigil to deal with any situation at the protest sites, police said.
Police forces have been in place at all the borders points, including the protest sites of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur, since Tuesday.
At Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, hundreds of farmers, led by Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, converged into groups as they burnt an effigy of the Centre in protest.
While many BKU supporters held black flags in their hands, several others had placards that condemned the government and demanded withdrawal of the contentious laws, even as Covid-19 protocols on social distancing and face masks went for a toss at the site.