Farm bodies convene meet to chalk out strategy for Dec 30 state bandh

To ensure the success of “Punjab Bandh on December 30, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) have convened a meeting of transporters, farmers, businessmen, employees and others at the Khanauri protest site on December 26.

SKM (Non-Political) leader and state general secretary of the BKU (Sidhupur) Kaka Singh Kotra said both forums had decided to observe “Punjab Bandh” from 7 am to 4 pm on December 30. Buses and other transport vehicles would not ply throughout the state. Markets and business establishments would also remain closed. However, emergency services would not be affected during the bandh, he added.

Farm leader from Haryana Abhimanyu Kohar said a member of the farming community had been observing an indefinite fast for the 28 days for getting the already accepted demands of farmers fulfilled. The financial condition of farmers was bad these days. As per data, a farmer earned only around Rs 27 per day, he added.

State president of the Bharatiya Kisan Ekta, Haryana, Lakhwinder Singh Aulakh said Chaudhary Charan Singh’s birthday was observed as “Kisan Divas” in the country on Monday. However, the financial condition of farmers had been worsening by the day, he added.

Farmers continued with their protest at Khanauri amid intermittent rain on Monday. Apprehending that the state government might try to remove Dallewal from the protest site, volunteers have tightened the security around him.

Haryana MP Kumari Selja, Shahi Imam from Ludhiana and Patiala and Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav visited the Khanauri protest site to enquire about the wellbeing of Dallewal on Monday.

Dal Khalsa activists, led by working president Paramjit Singh Mand, also visited Khanauri on Monday and extended their full support to the morcha and expressed solidarity with fasting Dallewal. They also enquired about his wellbeing.