Karnal: SKM farmers gear up for tractor rally today

Parveen Arora

Karnal, February 25

Farmers under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farm unions, have geared up for a nationwide tractor procession on highways, which is scheduled for February 26.

In Karnal district, farmers will assemble in Sector-12 and will park their tractors on National Highway-44.

A meeting of various farmers’ organisations was held in this regard at Kisan Bhawan in the city to chalk out the strategy. Ahead of the rally, farmers’ bodies have begun mobilising support in rural areas urging fellow farmers to bring their tractors to Karnal and park those — facing Delhi — along the highway.

Rattan Mann, state president of BKU (Mann), emphasised the peaceful nature of the march, stating that farmers are committed to maintaining law and order.

“On the call of SKM, we will take out a tractor march on Monday. A large number of farmers will participate in it. Farmers will assemble in Sector-12 and later will take out a march towards the highway, where they will park their tractors without blocking any road,” Mann added.

Bahadur Singh Mehla, spokesperson for BKU (Sir Chhotu Ram), said the government should fulfil their demands. He criticised the government for using police action to suppress the voice of farmers who want to go to Delhi from Punjab. He paid tributes to the protester who died allegedly in police action at Khanauri border.

Expectations for participation are high with farmer leaders actively engaging villagers to join the tractor rally. “We are expecting that a large number of farmers will participate in this tractor march,” said Mehla. Leaders Prem Chand Shahpur, Bhupinder Singh Ladi and Surinder Sangwan have also urged farmers to participate in large numbers.