Photo essay

Farmer protests: Scenes from Singhu

For over a month now, thousands of farmers have been protesting at Singhu on Delhi's border, demanding that the Narendra Modi government withdraw the three new farm laws and give legal backing to the minimum support price regime.

They have held several rounds of talks with the government's representatives to resolve the standoff, but to no avail. The government has flatly refused to repeal the laws, which farmers say are designed to corporatise agriculture, to their detriment. Farmers, in turn, have made clear that they won't end their stir until the laws are scrapped. So, they remain at Singhu, braving a harsh winter and sporadic rainfall.

Here are a few snapshots from the protest.

Pictures by Nirupama Sekhri.

A sabha in progress at the protest.
People from Moga, Punjab, at Singhu.
A group of people from Mohali.
Ardaas at a mobile gurudwara.
Protesters from Doaba, Jalandhar.
A free medical consultation stall.
At the Delhi entrance to the Singhu protest site.
A protester from Gurdaspur.
Man Mehek from Yamuna Nagar in Delhi isn't associated with farming, but is out to experience and support the historic protest.
A regular langar at the protest.
Dry fruits are distributed at the Ardaas.
The discipline committee ensures cleanliness and order.
About 30 toilet vans are lined up at the protest site.
A Nihang Sikh from Bathinda serves sweet flavoured milk.
Mehtab Singh, 9, from Amritsar is at Singhu with his family.
Anauk Singh from Batala.
Nihangs from Batala sharpen their weapons.
Ritu Rana is from a farming family in Mohali.
Protesters at Singhu.
A protester during a sabha.
Protesters during a sabha.
Protesters shout slogans.
Horses of some Nihang groups are fed and groomed at Singhu.
A banner on a tractor.
A medical services centre operated by a voluntary organisation based out of Kolkata.
Free medicines being distributed at protest.
Doctors from Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research have taken leave to serve at the protest site.
A mobile clinic offering free dental consultation.
Ardaas in progress.
A queue for sweet flavoured milk.
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