SKM against political rallies until polls announced

To convey message to parties invited for meeting today

No poll atmosphere

At present, there is no atmosphere of elections in Punjab, but resistance against the farm laws. We don’t want it to vanish into election campaigns.

Rajinder Singh, Kirti Kisan Union leader

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 9

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) is going to ask all political parties to suspend their election campaigns and rallies till the elections are formally announced in Punjab.

The 32 farmer organisations, which are part of the SKM, have called a meeting of leaders of all parties and their allies except the BJP tomorrow in Chandigarh.

Kirti Kisan Union leader Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala said the decision to ask the parties to stop their campaigns was taken in a meeting in Delhi on Tuesday.

Another SKM leader Prem Singh Bhangu said: “Political rallies are working against the interest of the farmers’ movement. These are diverting the people’s attention from our cause.”

Sources revealed there was a fierce debate over the issue in the SKM as a section wanted to allow all political parties except the BJP to continue with the campaign. But a strong view was the election campaigns are damaging the momentum of farmers’ movement so the campaigns should be halted till formal announcement of elections. A small section also wanted to ask political parties to demand the postponement of the elections.

But it was decided by the Punjab organisations to convey the political parties to support the farm organisations in their fight instead of damaging the resistance by starting election campaigns. “The election rallies are creating unnecessary clashes between farm organisations and political parties. Our fight is purely focused against the BJP,” said Deep Singhwala. Most parties have accepted the invitation and expressed willingness to discuss the matter.

Significantly, a major clash between farmers and police took place last week in Moga and Bhagapurana during the SAD election rallies, forcing the party to put its campaign on hold.