Nearly 500 farmers boarded buses for Delhi from Lower PMG Square near the Odisha Assembly on Friday to join their brethren braving the winter chill in the national capital to protest against the new farm laws.

The bunch appeared to be in high spirits with even the older ones among them confident of victory of the farmers in their agitation.

Surendranath Maharana, 70, who has lost a few of his teeth, said he was not bothered about the winter in Delhi. “Just give your phone number. I will give a call when I return from Delhi. I will return only after we emerge victorious,” he said.

Asked whether he was carrying any medicines with him , Maharana said: “Believe me, I am fit and fine. I am not bothered about my health at this moment. I am not carrying a single medicine even for cold. I will be back to Odisha again. Don’t worry.”

They left for Delhi after attending a state-level farmers’ convention organised by the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan, a farmers’ organisation.

Maharana was very critical about the government’s move to impose the new laws. “Thanks to the Supreme Court. It has finally intervened. Now the Centre should repeal the farm laws immediately. They had planned to implement the laws during the current pandemic crisis and thought no one would protest,” he said.

He also showed this reporter how he was carrying only a sweater, a blanket and a muffler to beat the cold.

“It’s your conviction, mental strength and the willingness to fight for a cause that would give you the courage to go to Delhi at this age,” said the septuagenarian.

Another farmer, Duryodhana Lenka, 56, intervened and said: “We are not even bothered about the Covid threat at this moment. It’s better to die rather than to lose our livelihood forever. The way East India Company entered India and monopolised the entire business and administration, now the big private players are taking the help of the government and are trying to replicate it. We are not ready to hand over our age-old livelihood to the traders.”

Farmer Guaranga Jena alleged: “Those who framed the laws have little knowledge about the ground realities. They framed the laws sitting inside AC chambers taking the traders’ interests into account. They have not seen the vagaries and wrath of nature and how the farmers are facing problems.”

The farmers who are going to Delhi have contributed Rs 2,000 each. “They have made this contribution and those who are not going have also donated for the cause,” said Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan convener Akshaya Kumar.

He said: “We have made all arrangements for the travel of our brothers. As per the route plan, we will go via Kharagpur, Ranchi, Varanasi, Lucknow and later reach Delhi. Today, nine buses and some four-wheelers have left for Delhi. Many others would follow us from different parts of the state. We will leave Delhi on January 29 after attending the parallel parade by farmers on Republic Day.”

The journey to Delhi was flagged off by former Union minister Braja Kishore Tripathy.

The state Congress unit on Friday also organised a demonstration demanding the repeal of the farm laws and lodged their protest against rising petrol and diesel prices. Later a delegation led by PCC president Niranjan Patnaik met the governor and submitted a memorandum.