By Counterview
Supporters of farmers’ protest have begun publishing “Trolley Times”, a newsletter in Punjabi, Hindi, and English. Not the official mouthpiece of the Sankyukt Kisan Morcha, or the Farmers’ Coordination Committee, the non-political body which is leading the struggle around Delhi, The “Trolley Times” is being brought out by writers, artists, activists in support of the Morcha.
Introducing the “Trolley Times”, and called the “Voice of Kisan Protest”, those who are behind its publication says that its team has been working round the clock to choose write-ups that “look beyond differences” that may be existing within the Morcha, with the singular aim of bringing about a “unity of farmers, laborers, and other sections.”
A note forwarded to Counterview on “Trolley Times” by a journalist-activist, states, the humble four-pager in the three languages is being brought out by Gurdeep Dhaliwal, Navkiran Natt, Jassi Sangha, Ajaypal Natt, Jasdeep Singh, Thukral Tagra, Narinder Bhinder, and Surmeet Maavi, among others.
Text of the note:
Over 95,000 trolleys are lined up in the crack of winter at Delhi borders, protesting over the farm bills. In this newsletter, we are trying to bring out protesters’ stories to them while they are camped out at Delhi borders. Our intent, without malice and an ulterior motive, is to simply represent peoples’ voices. In order to do so, we are reaching out to different writers and artists to seek their contributions.
We are aware that partisan publishing representation can create rifts in the movement. Our team works round the clock to choose write-ups that look beyond such differences and commit to the progress of the current movement that is exemplary because of the unity of farmers, laborers, and other sections.
The newsletter is made to clarify the real news in the midst of fake news, printed in Punjabi and Hindi, this four-page humble beginning is written with hope and optimism. On the first page, we will have briefs on the direction and the state of the morcha. The rest of the pages will contain writings, pictures, and artworks by contributors.
“Trolley Times” is inspired by the historic mobilization and able leadership of all the farmers and farmworker organizations. The morcha has provided vigor to the farmers and farmworkers of not only the Punjab-Haryana region but all over India.
On the one hand, the organizations have empowered and organized people to create the mass political awakening, on the other hand, the leaders of the organizations have pressurized the ruling and opposition political parties to speak the language of people’s welfare.
It has brought hope to well-wishers of solidarities and welfarist policies all over the world. The organizations’ leadership has worked resolutely to tread the ideological differences between themselves and bring this united movement to a point where its ultimate conclusion is victory.
Long live farmer-laborer unity.
Click HERE for the Punjabi-Hindi newsletter, and HERE for the English newsletter of “Trolley Times”
Source- counterview.net, 23 December 2020.
