Kaithal, Karnal peaceful, farmers await call from Punjab growers

Parveen Arora

Karnal, February 19

With farmers in Punjab discussing their future strategy following talks with Union ministers, the situation remained peaceful at all checkpoints in Kaithal district sharing borders with Punjab. The similar situation prevailed in Karnal district. However, the police parties and paramilitary forces maintained vigil at these checkpoints to ensure law and order.

Meanwhile, farmer leaders from Kaithal and Karnal districts are awaiting the call from Punjab farmers and are silent on their own future strategy. They are reaching out to farmers in villages, urging them to be prepared for any potential call to action.

“We held a meeting in Kurukshetra on Sunday, during which we made several decisions, but we are awaiting a call from the farmers of Punjab,” said Vikram Kasana, youth state president of BKU (Charuni). “We have exhorted our farmers to be prepared for any call,” he said.

He said they had urged khap and farmer leaders residing near Delhi to approach farmers in their vicinity and ensure their tractors are ready for mobilisation in the coming days.

He condemned the government’s action of issuing notices and detaining farmers to prevent them from participating in protests. “If the government agrees to our demands, there would be no need for protests,” he said.

On the other hand, the BKU (Mann) has called for protests at the BJP district offices on February 21 to press for their demands. They plan to burn effigies of the BJP government. “We are mobilising farmers to protest at the BJP district offices across the state. A meeting regarding this was held in Jind today. A national coordination committee meeting will also take place in Delhi on February 21,” said Rattan Mann, state president.

He criticised the government for suspending Internet services in seven districts and demanded its restoration.