Samyukt Kisan Morcha serves six-day ultimatum on Haryana CM Nayab Saini

Ravinder Saini

Rohtak, July 14

Adopting a tough stance against the state government for its alleged lethargic attitude towards its long-pending demands, Haryana Chapter of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) today served a six-day ultimatum on Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to invite its delegation to discuss their demands by July 20 otherwise be ready to face agitation.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the SKM’s coordination committee held here today. Resentment was also expressed at the meeting against the state government allegedly for persistently ignoring the farmers’ interest despite raising their concern at higher level many times in the past.

“Besides the ultimatum, the meeting attended by 37 office-bearers of 14 farm outfits affiliated to the SKM, chalked out a series of activities, including submission of memorandum to all Members of Parliament — both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — in the state on July 16, 17 and 18 regarding our long-standing demands,” said Inderjit Singh, a senior leader of the SKM and vice-president, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS).

Singh said apart from the pending issues such as legal guarantee of MSP on C2 50 per cent, loan waiver, withdrawal of Electricity Amendment Bill and pension to farmers, the SKM was demanding a separate budget on agriculture, abolition of GST on farm inputs and agriculture implements and no Central interference in the co-operative department which was a state subject.

Vikas Sisar and Sukhvinder Singh, other SKM leaders, said the meeting also resolved to observe August 9 as Corporate Quit India day to register protest against corporate houses alleging that they were “deceiving” innocent farmers instead of ensuring their welfare.

“The meeting also decided to mobilise trade unions, agricultural labourers, women, students, youth and employees to oppose the communal and anti-people agenda of the BJP during the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. A concrete action plan will be chalked out later for exposing the divisive politics of BJP,” the farm leaders added.

Other prominent farm leaders, including Master Balbir, Rattan Mann, Jogender Nain, Kanwarjit, Sukhdev Jammu, Harjinder Singh, Jai Karan, Sukhvinder Singh, Satish Azad, Randhir Singh, Sandeep Siwach Satyender Lochab, Dharam Pal Badala and Ravi Azad, also expressed their views at the meeting.