Dallewal asks farm unions to sink differences for unity

Reiterating that he would continue his indefinite fast until the demands of farmers were met, farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Tuesday said all farm unions should unite, setting aside differences of opinion.

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He said SKM (All-India) leaders came to Khanauri with a resolution of “ekta” (unity) following the kisan mahapanchayat in Moga. “If a resolution was passed and supported by the people, what is the hurdle? …we are inching towards a victory and need only a push. I don’t understand why it is taking so long for the formation of a united front. Multiple rounds of meetings are taking place. What is the need? I haven’t gone for the meetings, so I don’t know what is happening,” he said.

“Those engaged in talks with the SKM (All-India) do not tell me what is happening there. These multiple meetings are not good. People’s sentiment is that we should fight together,” he added.

The difference of opinion primarily stems from the fact that protests by farmers at Shambhu and Khanauri remain restricted to the demands of debt waiver and MSP law, while the SKM (All-India) has been claiming that the MSP is secondary to the Draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing as it contains provisions of the now-scrapped three farm laws.

Addressing the gathering on Tuesday for the first time since the January 4 kisan mahapanchayat at Khanauri, Dallewal said he had only agreed to take medical aid following government’s offer for talks.

“At present, my health does not permit me to personally visit Chandigarh for talks. I urge the farmer community from across the country to visit Khanauri border on February 12 as we are observing anniversary of our protest. I hope the huge gathering will re-energise me and give me strength to be physically present at the meeting with a delegation of the Centre,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha chief Sarwan Singh Pandher has alleged that antisocial elements were used for vandalising the Ambedkar’s statue in Amritsar with the intention of derailing the ongoing protest by farmers.

“We strongly condemn the incident and demand immediate arrest of those responsible for the act. We caution the people and urge the authorities of religious places to protect these as government agencies could do anything to change the course and direction of the protest,” he said.