How Deep Sidhu & Co hijacked march

by Abbas Adil

Despite being shunned by farmer unions at various stages of the ongoing agitation, actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu had been attempting to take a leadership role in the movement for the past many months.

A day ahead of the tractor march by farmer unions, he was seen campaigning on the Outer Ring Road in Delhi. The position taken by the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, which is not part of the 32 farmer organisations, of not sticking to the original route, along with the BKU (Krantikari), gave Deep Sidhu the opportunity to create trouble.

Deep Sidhu has been misleading farmers, especially youngsters, ever since the protest began. His yesterday’s act is shameful and unfortunate. Jagdeep Singh, panchayat member of actor’s native Udekaran village

On Monday, a group led by Deep Sidhu took over the main stage at Singhu, and along with gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana, announced they would hold the march “inside Delhi”. “They formed a five-member committee as well,” said Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala, vice-president, Kirti Kisan Union.

They had a plan ready by Tuesday morning. “They started a march of their own much before the official one began, and positioned their ‘henchmen’ in large numbers at a road turning towards central Delhi. From there, they directed other tractors towards the Red Fort,” said farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal.

Volunteers deputed by the unions did try to intervene, but they were outnumbered. “I tried to request them not to do that but they insulted me as well,” said Rajewal.

Around a month ago, during a meeting of the 32 farmer unions, one of the leaders had termed Deep Sidhu and Lakha Sidhana as “enemies of this struggle”.

During the last Lok Sabha elections, Deep Sidhu was campaigning for BJP’s Gurdaspur candidate Sunny Deol, and had even posed with PM Narendra Modi. He was accused of being an “RSS agent” by farmer unions in Punjab.

The ‘Shambu morcha’, as the actor called it, had been receiving “live streaming” support from some pro-Khalistan channels.

Around two weeks ago he wrote to the unions, expressing his desire to get associated with their platforms. However, the plea was rejected.

Meanwhile, Deep Sidhu posted a video on his Facebook page, saying, “We have only hoisted the Nishan Sahib at the Red Fort while exercising our democratic right to protest.”

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