A family in Punjab refused wedding gifts from relatives and friends, and instead asked them to donate money for the farmers protesting in and around Delhi for the repeal of the Centre’s farm laws. 

The incident took place in Punjab’s Muktsar, around 250 kilometres from Chandigarh, NDTV reported.

They installed a special donation box inside the venue. From the dance floor, they appealed to the guests to make generous donations.

Most people outside Punjab do not understand the high level of grassroots activism which comes naturally to Sikhs. This perhaps comes from the concept of hands on Seva practiced in Gurdwaras and the warrior-saint concept of the Khalsa.#istandwithfamers https://t.co/JDdTtK7rVs

— Vikram Chhabra (@vikramschhabra) December 9, 2020

“Instead of paying us ‘shagun’ money for the couple, please donate for the farmers protesting in Delhi. This money will be used to provide food, warm clothes and other essentials to the farmers,” an announcer says.

Farmers are protesting as they are afraid there will be a drop in their income due to the three laws. They fear that the laws will make them susceptible to exploitation from corporate houses. 

However, the Centre claims that the laws will help eliminate middlemen, as farmers will be able to sell their produce wherever they wish.

The deadlock has not yet ended, despite several rounds of talks between the protesting farmers and the Centre. Farmer groups have refused to accept anything short of the three laws being scrapped.