Demands pending, farmers to gherao Haryana CM’s residence today

With the US-India trade deal among the latest addition, farm unions are set to intensify protests to press for their long-pending demands.

While the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) has asked farmers to reach Kurukshetra for a three-day dharna near the CM’s residence from Monday, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) has also directed its office-bearers to run an awareness campaign and mobilise support for the March 23 rally in Kurukshetra.

Farm leaders have accused the government of compromising with the interests of farmers and not accepting their demands, including legal guarantee on MSP, loan waiver and adequate compensation for losses.

BKU (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh called upon the union leaders to launch an awareness drive in villages to make farmers aware of the pending demands and motivate them to reach Pipli grain market on March 23.

“With the US-India trade deal, the government has compromised with the interests of the farmers. The Centre has decided to handover the farming to corporate houses. The farmers are in no position to compete with the US in agriculture sector. We will make people aware of the ill-effects of the trade deal,” Charuni said.

“On February 27, effigies of PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump will be burnt in all districts. On March 5, ‘Prachar Rath’ will be flagged off. Tractor marches will be organised at tehsil level on March 10,” he added.

After the meeting, farmers took out a protest march and raised slogans against PM Modi and Trump.

BKU (Charuni) spokesman Rakesh Bains said, “A meeting was held to discuss the trade deal between India and the US and on several other public issues.”

BKU (SBS) president Amarjeet Singh Mohri, said, “Farmers will reach Kurukshetra to gherao the CM’s residence from February 23-25 to press the government for the long-pending demands.”