Farmers' stir benefiting Centre, not Sikh community: Tikait

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Rakesh Tikait has kicked up a row regarding the ongoing farmers' agitation, saying that while the Centre was 'benefiting' from the agitation at the Khanauri-Shambhu border, it was causing a loss to the Punjab Government and the Sikh community.

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Interacting with the media at a kisan mahapanchayat organised by the SKM in Tohana of Fatehabad district, Tikait said, "Is andolan se Bharat sarkar ko fayda ho raha hai. The agitation at Khanauri-Shambhu border, going on for the past 10 months, will continue for another four-five months. We have formed a six-member committee to hold talks with them, but there has been no progress on a united agitation,” he said.

The SKM (non-political), headed by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on indefinite fast, had launched the agitation, but the SKM has not joined it so far.

Tikait further stated, “The Sikh community is being negatively impacted due to the agitation. People believe that agitators are blocking roads. The Centre wants the farmers to stay entangled and not make any progress on their issues. Though we support this movement, Dallewal's condition is deteriorating. We cannot help him. Only the Indian Government or his committee can assist him,” he stated.

"The Sikh community does not back away from martyrdom. A committee was formed by the SKM to communicate with him, but no conclusion was reached," he said, adding that

mahapanchayats would be held across the country.

“We have been struggling for MSP, and to protect our land. MSP was not being given to the farmers. Bajra was being purchased from Rajasthan and rice was being purchased from Bihar on cheaper rates, which were being resold on MSP. But it was being done by traders, and thus farmers were not getting MSP on their produce,” he claimed.

"The SKM is not starting a new agitation, as of now. We have decided to hold nationwide meetings. If the government does not agree, we will decide the next course of action. Any future protests will be on the Kundli-Manesar Expressway," he said.

Speaking at the mahapanchayat, farm leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan expressed apprehension that the draft issued on November 25 would lead to corporate control over grain trade. He called for unity in facing the challenges posed by the World Trade Organisation and International Monetary Fund.

Tikait proposed the next phase of agitation to focus around Madhya Pradesh, and urged the Central government to take steps to save Dallewal's life. He also accused the Haryana Government of misleading people about MSP for 24 crops.

He said there was no communication from the Centre regarding talks on the demands of farmers.

The kisan mahapanchayat passed a resolution rejecting the national framework for agricultural marketing and urged all village councils to submit their opposition to the Centre by January 10.

Leaders announced that the SKM’s general body meeting, scheduled for January 24 in Delhi, would decide the next phase of the farmers' movement.