Sonepat: Shun agitation, Dahiya khap to farmer organisations

Mukesh Tandon

Sonepat, February 8

Dahiya khap, a prominent khap in the region, today advised farmer organisations not to protest, and instead, talk directly to the government regarding their demands. It also appealed to not make Sonepat the centre of their agitation.

Antil khap to decide on February 10

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Hawa Singh Antil, president, Antil khap, said ‘Antil chaubisa’ (panchayat of 24 villages of Antil khap) had called a meeting on February 10. After discussing with all members, a decision would be taken whether to support the farmers’ movement or not

Interacting with the media, khap president Surender Dahiya asked the farmer unions to meet the PM or the Agriculture Minister to discuss their demands.

Haryana was still suffering the consequences of the previous farmers’ movement, he said. The state had suffered a loss of thousands of crores. The country’s image was also tarnished following the involvement of scores of anti-social elements in the movement, he said.

Industrialists, shopkeepers and transporters had suffered huge losses, and over 700 farmers had lost their lives during the agitation, he said.

The second major loss of the movement was the increase in the use of drugs, including “chitta”, among youths. The khaps had collected donations from all villages and had given crores of rupees to the farmers, but the money was not utilised properly, Dahiya alleged.

He clarified that he was not against the farmers’ genuine demands, but he was against the agitation.