November 26 marks a year since tens of thousands of farmers reached New Delhi, protesting against anti-farmer measures of the central government, notably the three new farm laws that had been pushed through the Parliament in 2020. Here is a look at some of the key moments of the protest that has developed a life of its own.
Rallies are regularly held at the protest sites to brief the farmers and keep their morale high
With God's Grace: Farmers hold prayer sessions several times a day
The protest has attracted a strong participation by women as well
The day begins with a hot cup of tea at farmers' protest sites
Farmers spend their evenings in makeshift home in a trolley
Day or night, the protest remains alive
On January 26, 2021 thousands of farmers marched on the Red Fort to register their protest
Most of them took their tractors and trolleys to reach the iconic monument
Farmers sitting on the road at Singhu Border in north west Delhi
Police have used all forms of barricades to prevent farmers from crossing over
In early December 2020, farmers try to cross into central Delhi to make their demands heard
Police also used water cannons in futile attempt to prevent farmers from reaching Singhu Border
On November 26, 2020, as the farmers reached Singhu Border in Delhi they were greeted with tear gas by police
A farmer faces off with the police at Singhu Border
Making the protest heard, a farmer at Singhu Border
On November 26, 2020, farmers also reached Tikri Border in western Delhi
Ghazipur border in east is also a staging point for protestors
Over the past year, the farmers have made their homes at several border points of the national capital, notably Singhu and Tikri in north-west Delhi and Ghazipur in the east where they have been in a face off with the police and the government for an entire year. The unique protest, which has seen the farmers beautify their protest sites as well make homes and offer a wide variety of community service, including round the clock free meal service or langar sewa and also providing medical assistance to all visitors and residents of the area around the protest sites. The peaceful and patient protest has drawn international attention and several celebrities from around the world.
Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to repeal the three laws, the farmers are continuing with the agitation saying they will withdraw only when government meets all their demands, including guaranteed price for their crops as well as withdrawal of Electricity Bill, and the actual withdrawal of the farm bills happen.
