Haryana khaps throw weight behind farm stir

After efforts being made by the SKM (Non-political), which has been spearheading the ongoing farm agitation, and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) for unity, the Haryana khap panchayats have in principle decided to back the stir.

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The coordinator of an 11-member committee of the khap panchayats, Satish Singh, who is a member of the Satrol khap in the Narnaund region of Hisar, today told The Tribune that various farmers’ bodies had come on a common platform to carry out the agitation in support of their demands. “Farmer leaders of a few outfits held discussions in a conducive atmosphere at Patran in Punjab today. It’s a positive sign. We have urged them to join hands and have assured them of our support,” he said.

The khap leader said farmers’ bodies were likely to work out a common minimum programme for the agitation at a joint meeting on January 18. He said the 11-member committee of the Haryana khap panchayats would meet on January 19 or 20 to take a final call on supporting the stir.

The khap panchayats would participate in the January 26 tractor march to strengthen the agitation, he said.

However, Jaipal Dahiya, pradhan of the Dahiya khap, and Suresh Phogat, pradhan of the Phogat khap, said they were still waiting for the final outcome of the talks between the farmers’ organisations.

“We will hold a meeting immediately after the January 18 meeting of the farm bodies to take a final decision,” said Jaipal. Suresh also vowed support with the condition that all farmers’ bodies must come on a common platform. The Haryana khap panchayats had played a crucial role in strengthening the farmers’ agitation at the borders of Delhi in 2020-21.