Thousands of farmers gather at Haryana mahapanchayat; leaders call for ‘turning point’ in agitation
Deepender Deswal
Tribune News Service
Hisar, February 7
Farmer leaders Rakesh Tikait, Balbir Singh Rajewal and Darshan Pal Singh were among the thousands of farmers gathered at a mahapanchayat in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri on Sunday to garner support for the protest against the three contentious farm laws.
Farmer leader Darshan Pal Singh gave a call to intensify the agitation in Haryana.
“The Haryana BJP government has let down people and has no right to stay in power,” he said.
He said he had cautioned the government about the new Bills during the initial discussion but his voice was not heard.
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No ‘ghar wapsi’ till farmers’ demands are met: Tikait
Taking a lesson from the Jind ‘mahapanchayat’, organisers of the ‘mahapanchayat’ at Kitlana have set up a brick-lined stage and enclosed it with pipes to ensure the safety of the farmer leaders at the stage.
Singh urged the youth to come ahead and take forward the agitation.
“We have debated clause-wise on the law but lies have been spread about the discussion. Union Ministers have realised their mistake in the enactment of laws. Sarv khap panchayat has immense strength to take the stir ahead and we hope that a united struggle will ensure win of the farmers,” Singh reiterated.
Haryana Deputy Chief Minister had stated that he would resign from the government if issue not resolved by January 26.
Rakesh Tikait said khap panchayats had emerged as a strong social set up during the times of Raja Harshvardhan.
“The government tried to divide people on the basis of Haryana and Punjab, Sikh and non-Sikh but you should stay strong. There is not a single weak link in the agitation,” he assured the kisan morcha leaders.
On the violence of Republic Day, he alleged: “Our young people were misguided and taken to the Red Fort by government agencies.”
“Two government representatives came to meet me yesterday but I refused to meet them separately as every discussion will be held collectively in the presence of 40 members of the kisan morcha,” Tikait said.
The MLA from Charkhi Dadri and Sangwan khap pradhan, Sombir Sangwan, on Saturday had said the ‘mahapanchayat’ would be a ‘turning point’ in the agitation of the farmers against the farm laws.
