Farmers plan to join Anna's ‘satyagrah’ on March 23

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, March 19

Farmer organisations are now contemplating to join social activist Anna Hazare’s proposed agitation to be held in Delhi on March 23.

Gurnam Singh Charuni, convener, Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh, an umbrella organisation of farmers from various states, told The Tribune today that a delegation would meet Hazare on Wednesday to convince him to give farmers’ issue a top priority during the proposed ‘satyagrah’.

He said at a meeting with farmer leaders from different regions, the scope to join Hazare’s movement was deliberated.

“Though Hazare’s team is tagging the movement as to protect the rights of farmers and workers, the pamphlets distributed to garner support do not mention the same. Hazare’s associates are mainly focusing on the demand for an effective Lokpal,” said Charuni, also the president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni).

After Hazare was invited here on March 4 by the Social Justice Front, an NGO run by former Lokayukta Justice Pritam Pal (retd), Charuni had told The Tribune that farmer unions from Haryana would not join the ‘satyagrah’ as the movement was against the interests of farmers.

Charuni had stated that no representative of farmers was invited on March 4 as the Hazare’s team lack knowledge of farmers’ issues.

However, Charuni today said the farmers wanted their representative in the delegation if the Central Government invited them for discussion.

“We want farmer leaders to pursue their demands before the government, including implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report and loan waiver relief for the farmers. Hazare’s existing team of legal luminaries may have expertise on Lokpal, but they are not aware of the ground situation of the challenges faced by the farmers,” he said.