Samyukt Kisan Morcha takes out tractor march in Punjab over MSP

Tribune Reporters

Patiala/Fatehgarh Sahib, February 26

Farmers under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) today took out a tractor march and parked these along the highways in Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib.

Thousands of farmers burnt the effigies of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for its “anti-farmer” policies and the Centre’s failure to fulfil their demands.

In Patiala, farmers parked their tractors on GT Road in Sirhind and on the Sangrur highway and raised slogans against the Centre.

Krantikari Kisan Union district chief Harnek Singh Bhallamajra and Bhupinder Singh Jallah (district head of BKU, Rajewal) said the Central Government had backtracked on implementing the MSP. “Despite several meetings, nothing concrete has come out. The Centre is just delaying the matter and working to eliminate farmers by implementing the policies of the WTO,” they said.

They alleged that as per the WTO policies, the Centre was importing pulses and other food items worth crores from abroad, but was unwilling to give the MSP to its own farmers.

Similarly, farmers protesting at the Shambhu barrier for the last 10 days burnt the effigy of the WTO and slammed the Centre for its “anti-farmer” policies.

Sangrur: Members of the BKU (Ugrahan) today burnt the effigy of the WTO at Mehlan village on Sangrur-Patran Road. Farm activists also parked hundreds of tractors on the highway in order to send a message to the Centre to withdraw from the WTO in the larger interests of farmers.

Janak Singh Bhutal, senior vice-president, BKU (Ugrahan), said the policies of the WTO and the Centre were “anti-farmer”. The farm leaders demanded the cancellation of “false cases” registered against farmers, compensation to family members of farmers who died during the 2020-21 Delhi stir and guaranteed MSP on all crops.

Bhupinder Singh Longowal of the Kirti Kisan Union said the Modi government was “committing atrocities” on the agitating farmers at Shambhu and Khanauri borders. He said an FIR should be registered against Haryana Chief Minister and Home Minister for the death of the 22-year-old Shubhkaran Singh at Khanauri.

Bathinda: Members of the BKU (Ugrahan) burnt effigies of the WTO and parked their tractors on the roads at Bhucho Khurd, Bathinda, Pathrala, Talwandi Sabo and Maur Mandi.

Shingara Singh Mann, district head, BKU (Ugarhan), said the Centre should exit the WTO due to its anti-farmer policies. At a WTO meeting in the UAE today, decisions such as stopping the MSP and government procurement had been taken, he said.

Shubhkaran’s autopsy pending

• The autopsy of Shubhkaran Singh, who died in alleged police firing at Khanauri, could not be conducted
• Police personnel and farmers continue to stay put at Rajindra Hospital, Patiala
• Shubhkaran had died on February 21 and his body is kept in a mortuary as farm unions are adamant on registration of an FIR against Haryana cops

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