Differences to the fore among farmer unions
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 2
Differences among farmer unions during a protest against the Punjab Government were clearly visible today with one group choosing to return after a symbolic protest and the other going ahead with a march towards the state Assembly.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 32 farmer organisations, after raising their demands at Sector 34 in Chandigarh chose to go back in the evening. Continuing with their tradition of a strong public expression, around 1,000 members of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union walked up to the “matka chowk” to lodge a protest.
A senior leader of the SKM said, “We are not convinced with the manner in which ‘these’ unions are carrying out their protest. We need to convey our message and not cause any problem to the common citizens.” General secretary of the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said, “You ask them why they are not joining us?”
An expert on farm issues said, “The protest shows that farmers have lost out completely on support of an ordinary citizen. People are fed up. A fatigue has set in. The farmers’ movement lost its face when leaders decide to contest the elections and lost even their deposits. They need to reinvent or they lose all support.”
Farmer leader Mahender Singh Takait said all farmer organisations should get together for a common goal.
In the past also, the BKU has taken controversial stands. In September 2009, the BKU(Ekta-Ugrahan) along with power employees staged a demonstration at the Sector 16/17 roundabout over unbundling of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB). The protest turned violent. Stone hurling by protesters left around 50 persons injured, including police personnel. Thirty-eight vehicles were also damaged. The incident led to shifting of the protest site to Sector 25.
Kokrikalan said, “We are sitting here till September 5.” The SKM would carry forward its agenda of protests in November in case their demands were not addressed, said Balbir Singh Rajewal, president of the BKU (Rajewal).
President of the All India Kisan Federation Prem Singh Bhangu said, “The government has waived corporate houses’ debt worth millions of rupees, but is not extending the same relief to farmers and labourers. CM Bhagwant Mann has also not implemented the demands of farmers that he had accepted last year, particularly the one-time settlement scheme in cooperative banks.”
The SKM also demanded immediate lifting of rice from mills to make space for the fresh stock.
The BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) demanded a “new farm policy” for addressing agriculture-related issues and saving farmers from the clutches of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Bank and other agencies.
It demanded that the government should immediately withdraw frivolous and false cases against farmer leaders. All police cases for stubble burning should also be withdrawn immediately. The government should impose a special tax on rich landlords, moneylenders and corporate houses for implementing a farmer friendly policy.
The SKM demands included that the state government should resolve on priority the issues related to water and agriculture crises. It demanded formulation of a water policy for the prevention of depleting water table.
