Angry with BJP, farmers, trade unions to hold mahapanchayat in Hisar today

In an attempt to build a political narrative on the issues related to farmers and workers in the Assembly elections, the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), Haryana, and the Central Trade Unions will jointly hold a Kisan Mazdoor mahapanchayat in the grain market here tomorrow. The mahapanchayat is likely to take key decisions which could have implications for the Assembly polls.

Farmers, workers in mood to punish BJP

The BJP government had taken a number of anti-farmers and anti-workers decisions. Thus, farmers and workers in different segments are deeply disappointed with the ruling party and has been in a mood to punish the BJP. — Shardanand Rajli, spokesperson for the SKM, Hisar

The prominent farmer and trade union leaders, including Rakesh Tikait, Jogender Singh Ugrahan, Dr Darshan Pal, Vijoo Krishnan, P Krishna Prasad, Rajan Ksheer Sagar, Satyawan, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) leader AR Sindhu, Inderjit Singh and other leaders apart from leaders of various farm outfits and workers unions of Haryana will take part in the mahapanchayat.

The meeting assumes significance in the wake of the upcoming elections. The SKM, Haryana, has already given a call to oppose, expose and punish the ruling BJP in Assembly elections at its state-level meeting held in Bhiwani on August 20.

Shardanand Rajli, the spokesperson for the SKM, Hisar, said the issues and demands of the farmers and working classes should be included in the manifestoes of the political parties. “The BJP government had taken a number of anti-farmers and anti-workers decisions. Thus, these segments are deeply disappointed with the ruling party and has been in a mood to punish the BJP,” he said.

Manoj Kumar, district secretary of the CITU, said the workers had the largest contribution in the development of the state. But the government had failed to protect their interests. The construction workers, Asha workers, Anangwari workers, Midday meal workers, rural sweepers, safai karamcharis have been on the agitational path for a long time. But the government has not listened to the demands and failed to protect their interests,” he said adding that a large number of workers will participate in the rally in Hisar on Saturday.

Inderjit Singh said the SKM and Trader Unions have taken stock of the announcements made by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini just prior to the declaration of the election schedule by the Election Commission of India. “The BJP is desperately trying to cover up for the deep accumulated anger within the farmers and other working communities as a result of 10-year misrule of the state government and the Centre. “But it is evident that a strong wave of anti-incumbency will hit the BJP hard as the people are geared up to teach the ruling regime a lesson,” he said.

He said that the government had done nothing for the farmers. Singh said various trade unions representing a huge number of workers of the unorganised sector, agricultural labourers and scheme workers had been fighting for so long for minimum wages and regularisation of their jobs. Their plight was miserable due to the unprecedented price rise and weakening of MNREGA.