Farm unions plan big protest during first mahapanchayat at Ratanpura
As the momentum at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders slows down, farm union leaders are now focusing on holding a big protest on the occasion of their first mahapanchayat at Ratanpura in Rajasthan on February 11.
Mahapanchayats are scheduled to be held at Ratanpura (February 11), Khanauri (February 12) and Shambhu (February 13). To ensure maximum participation in the February 11 mahapanchayat, farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal is set to address farmers via video-conferencing.
Meanwhile, Sarwan Singh Pandher, convener of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), has managed to mobilise a significant number of farmers to maintain pressure on the ground.
While the activity at Shambhu remains steady, relative calm prevails at Khanauri since the visit of Priya Ranjan, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, on January 18. During his visit, Ranjan met Jagjit Singh Dallewal and invited farm leaders for discussions in Chandigarh on February 14 to address their long-standing demands.
The discussions will see participation by representatives of the SKM (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) that have been leading the protests since February 13, 2024.
SKM (Non-Political) leaders Kaka Singh Kotra and Abhimanyu Kohar have urged farmers to maintain pressure despite the upcoming discussions. “If we become casual and start thinking that talks have been initiated, the outcome of our agitation will be different. We must keep mounting the pressure,” said Kohar.
Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over the third round of unity talks, known as the “Ekta Resolution”. The SKM (All-India), which includes prominent leaders such as Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbir Singh Rajewal and Dr Darshan Pal, had invited leaders of the SKM (Non-Political) and the KMM for the third round of unity talks.
Ugrahan, however, said the SKM (Non-Political) and the KMM had not responded to the invitation. KMM chief Sarwan Singh Pandher, while expressing his commitment to unity, insisted that discussions should take place without preconditions.
Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose indefinite fast entered the 69th day on Sunday, questioned the need for multiple rounds of unity meetings after the “Ekta” resolution was passed and supported during the kisan mahapanchayat on January 9.
Ugrahan expressed concern over the government’s selective invitation for talks. “The government has invited representatives of the SKM (Non-Political) and the KMM only for talks on February 14. It indicates they want to divide the unions,” he said.
Sarwan Singh Pandher also stressed the importance of inclusivity. “We have no objection if leaders of the SKM (All-India) are invited for the talks. Participation in discussions is not about one-upmanship, but it’s about long-term issues of the farming community. People know who has fought the battle on the ground,” he remarked.