No clarity on representation of BKU(U) in talks with Centre

Mohit Khanna

Patiala, February 17

Although the BKU (Ugrahan) has declared its intention of joining the ongoing agitation against the government alongside the protesting farmers affiliated with BKU (Sidhupur) and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, it remains uncertain whether representatives from the BKU (U) will be permitted to engage in the upcoming meeting with the government scheduled for Sunday.

Not received any invite for talks

We are ready to help if requested by the farmer union leaders. However, we have not received any invite from the government for the Sunday meeting, nor have the farmer unions in talks approached us to participate. Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, gen secy, bku(u)

In the previous farmer protests, members of the BKU(U) had played a prominent role in negotiations aimed at repealing the contentious farm laws.

Meanwhile, the union has clarified that any outcome from Sunday’s discussions, if there are any, will be assessed by representatives of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), and further action will be taken only after approval from all farmer unions.

Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, general secretary of the BKU (U), stated that, “We are ready to provide assistance and expertise if requested by the farmer union leaders currently involved in talks with the government. However, we have not received any formal invitation from the government for the Sunday meeting, nor have the farmer unions in talks approached us to participate.”

Kokri Kalan emphasised that any agreement reached between the delegation of farmer unions and the government would not be final and would be subject to analysis.

On the contrary, Gurdeep Singh, spokesperson for BKU (Sidhupur), noted that only leaders affiliated with the SKM (Non-Political) were engaged in discussions with the government.