FIRs against farmers: SKM to hold panchayat in Kurukshetra on Nov 5
Farm unions are on a collision course with the state government over the issue of holding the farmers responsible for the rising pollution and registering police cases against them for burning paddy stubble.
The Haryana chapter of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) will hold a state-level panchayat in Kurukshetra on November 5 to decide its course of action regarding the issue and other concerns of the farmers.
“The registration of FIRs for farm fires will be discussed at the panchayat. The prevailing shortage of seeds and DAP and other pressing concerns of the state farmers will also be taken up,” said Inderjit Singh, national vice-president of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and member of state SKM.
Talking to The Tribune today, Inderjit Singh said that in a communique dated December 9, 2021, the Central government had maintained that the farmers had been exempted from criminal liability in the matter pertaining to stubble burning under Sections 14 and 15 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
“After receiving the letter, the 13-month-long agitation of the farmers was suspended on December 11, 2021. However, the government is dishonouring its commitment by registering police cases and making red entries against them,” he said.
The government, which had failed to provide any effective solution/alternative to the practice of burning the residue, had started registering FIRs against the farmers, which was unacceptable, he said.
“The AIKS has staged demonstrations at all district headquarters in the state and submitted memorandums to the Chief Minister through the local Deputy Commissioners, but the registration of police cases continues. We will intensify our agitation and are prepared for a decisive battle against the anti-farmer policy of the government,” said the AIKS leader.
Sumit Dalal, general secretary of the state committee of the AIKS, said the government was trying to project the farmers as criminals to hide its failure regarding the effective management of stubble. “The farmers will seek a reply from the government at the SKM panchayat,” he added.
