Farmers, labourers to celebrate birth anniv of Ambedkar jointly

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 9

On the call given by the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, farmers and farm labourer unions decided to celebrate Dr BR Amebdkar’s birth anniversary in Delhi on April 14.

It’s for the first time in the state that Ambedkarites and farmers shall jointly celebrate the event. Across districts, several events would be held to observe the occasion. Jathas of farmers and labourers would also be heading to Delhi.

In a joint meeting, leaders of various unions said the Centre was trying to steal away constitutional rights of people. They said in response to these attempts by the government, April 14 this year would be celebrated both at Delhi borders and across the state as an assertion of constitutional rights.

They said three agri laws, the Electricity Amendment Act 2020 and the New Education Policy were all a part of an attempt to steal away the rights. They said Dalits would be most intensely affected as they depend on agriculture, landless and poor peasants shall also be left without livelihoods.

Members said the New Education Policy would impact their right to education and the Electricity Amendment Act would rob them of provision of exemption from paying electricity bills. They said farmers and labourers were united against the passing of these laws and bills.

Dehati Madoor Sabha general secretary Gurnam Daud, Pendu Mazdoor Union chief Tarsem Peter, Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union general secretary Gulzar Gaurian, Mazdoor Mukti Morcha chief Bhagwant Samrao, Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union head Balwant Makkhu, Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee’s Mukesh Malout among others, were also present.