“Labourers’ fight bigger than that of the farmers”: Strength and solidarity at the Mazdoor Kisan Ekta rally

On 21 February 2020, over one lakh farm-labourers and farmers gathered at a grain market in Punjab’s Barnala city, for the Mazdoor Kisan Ekta Maha rally. It was a show of unified strength against the recently enacted farm laws. The rally was organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, the BKU (EU)’s wing representing landless farm-labourers. Members of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a coalition of over 500 unions, which is heading the ongoing farmers’ protests at Delhi’s borders, were also present. The rally was an attempt to widen the base of the ongoing protests and build solidarity with farm workers, who will be adversely impacted by the new legislation.