SKM's participation in 'ekta' talks uncertain as Dallewal's health deteriorates

Suspense looms over the participation of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM Non-political) leaders in the fourth round of Ekta unity talks, scheduled to be held in Chandigarh on Thursday.

The SKM Non-political leaders held an emergency meeting at the Khanauri Border today after Jagjit Singh Dallewal's health deteriorated this morning.

According to farmer leader Kaka Singh Kotda, Dallewal is suffering from a high-grade fever (103°F) and uncontrolled blood pressure.

"We have called Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) Sidhpur members to reach the Khanauri borders on Thursday. Currently, the SKM Non-political members are discussing the matter, and we will share later this evening whether or not we will participate in tomorrow's meeting," said Kotda.

A cloud of doubt has emerged over the much-anticipated Ekta talks after Bharti Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan raised objections to the letter received for the Ekta talks. He stated that the letter only contains signatures of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) leaders, led by Sarwan Singh Pandher, and not the signature of SKM (Non-political), headed by Jagjit Singh Dallewal. Both unions have been protesting at the Shambu and Khanauri borders since February 13 last year.

Earlier, the SKM (Non-political) withdrew from the third round of unity talks just hours before the scheduled meeting on February 11, citing the unavailability of their top leadership. On February 18, both forums, in a joint letter, invited SKM All India leaders, including Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Dr. Darshan Pal, and others for talks to resolve differences.

The letter also stated, "We hope that your delegation will attend the meeting in the public interest." The first two rounds of talks, held on January 13 and January 18 in Patran near the Khanauri border, while in the third round on February 11 in Chandigarh, only KMM leaders participated. Before that, SKM All India leaders had met KMM leaders in Patiala on December 20.

Meanwhile, KMM leaders, including its chief Sarwan Singh Pandher, have maintained that they will participate in the Ekta talks tomorrow. Raminder Patiala of SKM All India said that they are unsure about the participation of SKM Non-political leaders, but the SKM All India leadership will definitely reach Chandigarh and participate in the talks.

While the current protest has remained restricted to demands including debt waiver and a law ensuring minimum support price (MSP) for crops, the SKM (All-India) has been claiming that the MSP is secondary to the Draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing as it contains provisions of the now-scrapped three farm laws.