DW BUREAU / chandigarh The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday asked its party cadre to rush to the three farmers' protest sites on Delhi borders in large numbers to give a further boost to the ongoing agitation. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal also spoke to farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and discussed ways to shore up more strength and support for the farmers' agitation in Delhi, especially in view of the "combined onslaught against farmers by the BJP and the Centre", a party statement said. Consequent upon the telephonic conversation with Tikait, Badal instructed the Akali cadre to rush to Delhi borders in larger numbers than before and lend strength to the peaceful movement, it added. While many Akali contingents have already joined the farmers in the gathering, more are on the way in large numbers, Badal said. Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia also appealed to SAD and Youth Akali Dal (YAD) workers who had returned to Punjab during the past one week to go back to the protest sites at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur, the statement said. It said Badal on Friday sent an Akali delegation comprising senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder, SAD Delhi president Harmit Singh Kalka and the DSGMC chief Manjindner Singh Sirsa to the site of the farmers dharna led by Tikait. The leaders had extensive talks with Tikait and discussed ways to lend more strength to the agitation, it added. The delegation assured Tikait of "whole-hearted support in terms of men, material and morale" to the farmers' cause, the statement said. Majitha said more partymen need to be at protest sites when the government wants to crush the agitation. "I know a large number of you have been camping on the Delhi borders since the last two months. However, the central government is making attempts to crush the 'kisan andolan' (agitation) in league with the BJP government in Haryana," he said. "We must ensure this nefarious design to silence the voice of the 'annadaata' and disrespect the sacrifice of eighty martyrs (farmers) does not succeed at any cost. No sacrifice is too big to ensure a win for the peasantry as well as ensuring peace and communal harmony," the statement quoted Majitha as saying. The SAD leader also condemned the "crude attempts" being made to suppress the farmers' agitation against the Centre's new farm laws "by letting loose lumpen elements on peacefully agitating farmers at Ghazipur on Thursday during the course of which farmer leader Rakesh Takait was targeted". (editor@dailyworld.in)