Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, December 16
Organisers of one of the biggest langars at Singhu were accorded a warm welcome on their return to Doaba. A convoy of 100 vehicles arrived at Phagwara to receive them on December 13.
Led by Bharti Kisan Union (BKU), Doaba, president, Manjit Singh Rai along with Tony Sandhu, Mangi Bagga, Nanni Gopalpur and other sportspersons, sports promoters and associates, village gram panchayats, these organisers contributed to the peasant movement and organised the “Maa dharti de warisan da langar” at Singhu.
For the past one year, at least 4,000 members of the sangat partook of langar near the KFC Mall, a farmers’ protest landmark.
At the same time, accommodation was also arranged for more than 3,000 sangats in the building.
Kabaddi players from Punjab and Doaba also played a vital role in organising the main stage at the border. The historic Delhi Morcha Kabaddi League was also organised in collaboration with sportspersons and NRIs.
To welcome the back these peasant movement supporters, a convoy of over a hundred tractors and other vehicles from Rurka Kalan village reached Ladhowal Toll Plaza from where Manjit Singh Rai, Satnam Singh Sahni, Tony Sandhu, Sonu Doji, Claire Randhawa, Manjot Machhiwara, Bhinda Mindu, Nimma Cheema, Kuljit Rai, Aman Hothi, Gopi Mudh, Nek Malupur, Gurmukh Dhakowal, Gogi Sandhwan, among other colleagues were warmly welcomed back to their villages.
One of the orgainsers, Tony Sandhu, said, “Sangats contributed wholeheartedly to the langar. On our way back, we donated our rations worth around Rs2.5 lakh to Darbar Sahib. Donations were also made to the Jalandhar branch of the Pingalwara, Amritsar. Donations will also be made to the families of martyrs in Amritsar. All rations or things left over will also go to various sports or social welfare NGOs.”
Not just rations but blankets, goods, coolers, fans, utensils etc. were also brought back from the Delhi border after the protests were wrapped up.
Sandhu quipped, “The protest site became our home. While coming back we fell like migrants going away from home. Singhu had been our home for a year. We have brought back memories, kindness and a sense of relief at having organised everything peacefully and successfully for a year by the grace of God.”
Those who kept the hearths burning at Singhu
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