Less than 24 hours after being released from Karnal jail on bail, 23 years Nodeep Kaur on Saturday she went straight to the center of the farmers’ unrest on Delhi’s Singhu border, where she said she would remain stationed to support the protest against the new farm laws and seek justice for her fellow activist Shiv kumar.
The young woman, she said, was asking questions and the government didn’t like it. “The government is especially targeting young people, saying that they are spreading violence through protests … However, only young people can fight evil,” Kaur told TOI in the context of his incarceration and arrest in a different case of 21 years. -former climate activist Disha ravi, who also obtained bail earlier in the week.
“It is important that people like me stand up and fight for the rights of the people who have put so much faith in us,” added Nodeep. Excerpts:
How did you get involved in the January 12 confrontation in Kundli (Sonipat) that led to your arrest?
We had gathered in front of a factory to protest and demand the release of the wages of some workers when the staff of the private security agency appointed by the industrial association began to beat us and shoot into the air. In retaliation, the workers also began beating the guards. The police arrived later but the fight continued. Although no action was taken against the security agency, I was arrested. (Nodeep was charged, among other sections, with extortion and attempted murder.)
Police and industry representatives have charged him with extortion. How do you respond to that?
People have only heard one side of the story. We also have videos of the workers who were present at the protest, which could not be released so far. Now I will release these videos so people can see what the truth is.
His arrest received worldwide attention after the tweet from Meena Harris (US Vice President). Kamala harrisniece). When did you realize?
Since I was unable to speak to my family for a while, I did not know about the type of support I had received. I found out from my sister about Meena Harris’s tweet. While I knew that my friends and family would support me and fight for me, I didn’t know that the movement had grown so large. The tweet made all of that possible. The police beat me at the protest site after male police officers arrested me. Then they took me to a desolate place and beat me there too. They took me to the Sonipat police station, abused me for being a Dalit and beat me again. While they beat me in my private parts, they did not sexually assault me. After I was transferred to Karnal Women’s Prison, I was no longer flogged.
Do you know the case of Disha Ravi?
The government wants to trample on the voice of the youth because only they can bring about change in any country. Youth is very powerful in this country. If young people take a step back, the government will be able to implement the new (agricultural) laws.
Your sister Rajveer had told us before that you would never be too far from a cause, something you learned from your mother?
Not just my mother, I was inspired by Rajveer, who has also been continually fighting for the downtrodden. I am also inspired by Bhagat singh, who gave his life for the country at the age of 23. At that time, he was branded a terrorist. But today, we owe our freedom to people like Bhagat Singh. Therefore, it is important that we continue to fight regardless of the opposition we face.
Where does Nodeep Kaur go from here? Will you go back to study?
I will continue to fight for workers and help them get their due. I wanted to study, but when I see people with multiple degrees fighting unemployment, I feel like I’m better fighting for people who use the faith that people have placed in me. I will continue to support farmers’ agitation and do everything I can to convince the government to withdraw all three laws.
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