AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—As the Sikh bodies are coming out to extend help to the farmers who were marching from Punjab and some other states toward Delhi to hold demonstration against BJP-led union government over its three ‘anti-farmer’ laws, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has also announced to provide them langar (free food) and medical aid.
In a press release issued here, the SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal said, “The SGPC is committed to support the cause of the farmers agitating against the Indian government’s black laws. Besides, we will also provide the struggling farmers’ langar from the gurdwaras and medical aid from the health care institutions run by the SGPC”.
Notably, major historic gurdwaras in Haryana from which the farmers are to pass through to reach Delhi, are managed under the apex gurdwara body. Besides, it also runs a medical college at Shahbad Markanda in Haryana.
“The SGPC earlier made arrangements to provide langar from the gurdwaras to the farmers sitting on dharna at several places in Punjab. Apart from this, the SGPC general house passed a resolution against the draconian laws and sent it to the union government. The farmers are fighting a battle of their existence and the SGPC stands with them in every situation”, he said.
Longowal said, the langar would be organized along the roads to be used by the farmers to reach Delhi. Teams of Sri Guru Ram Das Medical College Amritsar have been sent for the aid of the agitators. For this purpose, three medical vans have also been arranged. These vans will be sent to Khanauri, Shambu and Dabwali which are situated along the border of Punjab and Haryana, he said.
“Indian government’s insistence to suppress the voice of farmers will harm the interests of India. It must revoke these laws because the economy of the country is dependent on agriculture. Not addressing the demands of the agitating farmers is very sad. If the government does not take this matter seriously, the consequences would be dire”, he added.
On the other hand, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) which is elected body of Sikhs in Delhi, that manages affairs of the historic gurdwaras here and runs several institutions, has started preparations for the helping the farmers with langar (free food), medical aid and other kind of facilities. Besides, other local Sikh societies are also ready to contribute to the cause.
