WATCH: Utopia at protest sites hurt those who believe in divide & rule policy, says Khalsa Aid CEO Ravi Singh

In an interview, Khalsa Aid CEO Ravinder Singh has said that they have not called for donations for the work they are doing at the farmers protest sites. They are not collecting funds for the farmers, because we have funding in Khalsa Aid India.

Ravi Singh argued that even if Khalsa Aid sent money to India, why should that be a problem. “Why should a few thousands being sent for the welfare of the people hurt the government, but not the billions stashed away at Panama or in Swiss Bank accounts. India needs a statesman and not a politician to sort this mess out,” underscored Singh.

He said they don’t spend a lot of money on the langars as at least 80% of the aid is being given to them by the public. They only have to buy only minimal stuff. This is why they are not calling for funds. “If we get geysers, that’s a choice we make. But generally, food, blankets, clothes are being donated to us,” added Singh.

Khalsa Aid began helping the protestors when they sat on dharnas in Punjab. There they had set up langars and as the farmers moved to Delhi, their aid also grew bigger, he said. They organised their community kitchen in Singhu first, then also at Tikri border.

In the interview, Singh said they have set up tented accommodation for more than 300 elderly farmers in the cold at Singhu. Additionally, they have provided fire extinguishers, mosquito repellents and geysers. All of this is at Tikri too now.

Kisan Malls have been set up because of the generosity of people, said Singh. They were getting supplies and Khalsa Aid decided to set up this ‘mall’ for essential supplies. Every farmer would be given a token and they could come collect any of the essential goods for free.

“We have also delivered food to Ghaziabad and the Rajasthan border. The ‘seva’ is being done by volunteers from all walks of life helping us to serve the farmers. This is creating a utopia within these sites. It is creating a world which is tolerant and respectful, which is missing in the higher levels of the Indian government. This hurts those people espousing the ‘divide and rule’ policy. Here there is no divide and rule, pointed out Singh.

Singh highlighted that they do not pick and choose. “We will help everyone in need. In Uttarakhand, there were mostly Hindu pilgrims. Nobody told us to help them. We simply got on with it. If you have to build a better India, it begins with social justice. You have to change from within and not let old people divide from within,” said Singh

The supporters of Khalsa Aid India have increased after the vilification campaign by certain news organisations. It’s not just Sikhs, he added.

“If we were terrorists, UK police would have arrested us, or India would have put us on trial. Put us on trial. We are submitting all the paperwork to all the government agencies as required by governments,” said Singh.