Key farm unions staying away, rift to fore over Feb 13 protest

Tribune News Service

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Chandigarh, February 9

While 16 farmer unions from Punjab, mainly the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC), have started their journey towards the national capital for the ‘Dilli Chalo’ agitation on February 13, a number of prominent unions, including the Bharti Kisan Union (Rajewal), BKU (Ugrahan) and BKU (Lakhowal) have chosen to stay away. The SKM was formed with 40 farmer unions in protest against the Centre passing the controversial farm Bills in November 2020. Differences among leaders led to the formation of the SKM (non-political) with Jagjit Singh Dallewal emerging as the coordinator after July 2022 following differences over the working style, particularly in organising the protests.

Haryana cops fortify borders

The Haryana Police have fortified borders with Punjab and Delhi with barricades and concrete blocks and deployed 50 companies of paramilitary forces across state.

A senior farmer leader said “differences had cropped even earlier after allegations of mismanagement of funds during the farmer agitation”.

KMSC president Satnam Singh Pannu said: “Those not joining us have become part of the political setup. They are now part of government meetings so we (farmers) cannot expect much. We are dedication to our mission and have made adequate arrangements for food and stay in Delhi to protest for as long as required.”

Denying the charge, BKU (Rajewal) chief Balbir Singh Rajewal said: “The organisers of the February 13 programme were not even part of the original farmer agitation. They had joined us 20 days later. They were the faces behind the trouble caused at the Red Fort. They were not even part of the farmer discussions with the government. Only time will show the reality.”

BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said: “We have a plan for the agitation at the national level on February 16 (Bharat bandh) in support of trade unions. This was announced much earlier.” On different dates being given by the KMSC group, Kokrikalan said: “We have nothing to say on the issue. Let them organise the bandh and let the farmers decide who is real.”

KMSC chief Pannu said: “Wait for a few days and you will see all of them joining our agitation. We have the common farmer with us. Wait till these people are questioned for not joining us.”

Mansa district president BKU (Ugrahan) Ram Singh Bhainibaga said: “We had got together under the banner of the SKM in 2020 and attend all their programmes. The SKM has not announced the February 13 programme so we are not part of it.”

The ‘Dilli Chalo’ organisers, however, claimed farmers from at least 200 organisations from all over the country would join their protest.

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