Farmers' unity talks remain inconclusive in absence of Dallewal faction

The meeting between Samyukt Kisan Morcha leaders and the Kisan Mazdoor Manch, for forging a ‘unity’ between all farmer unions, remained inconclusive in the absence of Jagjit Singh Dallewal-led Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political).

The three-hour long meeting was held here on Wednesday.

Both sides — SKM and KMM — agreed that they need to synchronise their protests and jointly fight for the cause of farmers.

The Kisan Mazdoor Manch will now take up the proposal with SKM (Non-Political) farmer leaders, who are protesting at the Khanauri border for a year now.

Dallewal, who is the convener of the SKM (Non-Political), has been on the indefinite hunger strike at the Khanauri border point since November 26 last year in support of various demands including a legal guarantee to minimum support price for crops.

The third round of ‘unity’ meeting was called on Wednesday ahead of the February 14 meeting called by the Centre with the KMM and SKM (Non-Political) leaders to end the impasse, ever since talks between the two sides broke in February last year without reaching any conclusion.

Meanwhile, KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said they would protest any move by Punjab Government to impose stamp duty on transfer of property to next of kin.

The proposal is to come up for discussion in the Cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday.