After Daring Dadis, Punjab's Bibi Ji's Join Anti-CAA Protests As They Reach Shaheen Bagh
A large contingent of Sikh farmers from Punjab who were detained last night while they were on their way to Shaheen Bagh in Delhi reached the protest venue on Thursday. The Sikh farmers onboard eight buses were allegedly stopped by police officers without name tags on Wednesday night. They were eventually taken to Gurudwara Balasaheb where they spent the night under strict police vigil.
A large contingent of Sikh farmers from Punjab who were detained last night while they were on their way to Shaheen Bagh in Delhi reached the protest venue on Thursday.
The Sikh farmers onboard eight buses were allegedly stopped by police officers without name tags some 3 km away from Shaheen bagh on Wednesday night.
Video courtesy @_MayankSaxena
¡ª ??????????/??????????/Priyadarshi/?????????? (@MajChowdhury) February 5, 2020
The Sikhs of Punjab Kisan Union are about to reach #ShaheenBagh.@Shaheenbaghoff1 Hope you folks are ready to receive our brave guests. https://t.co/uQNNOcrAxQ
The Sikhs are marching.
¡ª ??????????/??????????/Priyadarshi/?????????? (@MajChowdhury) February 5, 2020
From Gurdwara Bala Sahib to Shaheen Bagh at 10.30 AM.@DelhiPolice, which has acquitted itself admirably in escorting Hindutva terrorists over the last few days & jumping the hoop at the masters lisp, may try to stop the march. The Sikhs are determined. pic.twitter.com/NgmKVuH0gq
According to a farmer who was part of the group no reasons were given for them being stopped and they were eventually taken to Gurudwara Balasaheb, where they spent the night under strict police vigil.
Update: 2:10 A.M
¡ª Shaheen Bagh Official (@Shaheenbaghoff1) February 4, 2020
8 buses of Sikh Farmers travelling from Punjab to show solidarity with Shaheen Bagh were stopped by police officers without name tags 3 km away from Shaheen bagh. No reasons for stopping them were provided. They were eventually taken to Gurudwara Balasaheb. pic.twitter.com/9cd1Gwt4mE
On Thursday morning, after they were allowed to travel again, the Sikh farmers reached the protest venue and joined the demonstration.
Videos posted on social media showed the protesters welcoming the Sikh delegation.
This is how we welcome when ppl come with real identity and good intention.@gunjakapoor please learn something from them.
¡ª Nasir Mirza (@Nasir_Speaks) February 5, 2020
Women of Shaheen bagh welcoming the Sikh farmers of Punjab who were detained by Delhi police yesterday ?? pic.twitter.com/ecACmbdMP4
There are also videos of them preparing langar for the women protesters in Shaheen Bagh who has been demonstrating for over 50 days against the CAA and NRC.
What an amazing thing is going to happen,our sikh farmers from Punjab are going to start next langer, they offered me tea that was scrumptious and brought all stuffs of food with. Pretty overjoying spree to be united right here. Long live Shaheen Bagh.Salute to my sikh brts & sis pic.twitter.com/dm1IpoLYDp
¡ª Shakib Khan (@KkhanShakib) February 5, 2020
"Sikh farmers were detained by the police, one of the leaders of this group was reciting poetry to us at our mural. Over the days he fed us many times, as well as hundreds of others who have gathered here. We feed each other, we create beauty, we sing together, we pray together. How great is our love. How small is your fear," an Instagram user wrote.
This, however, is not the first time the Sikh community has made their presence felt in Shaheen Bagh. In fact, a group of Sikhs have been in Shaheen Bagh since January and had been preparing langar every day for the protesters.
A group of Sikh men from the Punjab farmers' union had come to Shaheen Bagh on January 15 and had been preparing the traditional community kitchen where everyone is offered a free meal. Food in langar is simple, roti, daal, vegetables and a dessert.
The group has also said that they plan to keep the langar service running indefinitely.
We needed supplies for Guru ka langar at #ShaheenBagh and I shared a number to coordinate. Now my friend has started rcvng threats. If you want to help please be there at Shaheen Bagh. Stand in solidarity with the protesters. That's what you can do. That's what you should do.
¡ª nishtha ????? (@NishthaSood19) February 5, 2020
Many Sikhs who came to Shaheen Bagh had said that it was important for the community to express solidarity to the Muslims as they were all too familiar with how it feels to be looked with suspicion, especially after the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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