Will hold mahapanchayats across country, says SKM
Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Indri (Karnal), February 14
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday announced that kisan mahapanchayats will be organised across the nation against the Centre’s three farm laws and to garner support. Besides, a youth sammelan will be organised in Haryana.
The SKM urged the farmers not to cast their votes in favour of those political parties which are opposing the agitation.
Candlelight march to pay tribute to Pulwama martyrs
- Scores of farmers on Sunday evening took out a candle march in Karnal to pay tribute to Pulwama attack martyrs.
They started their march from Gurdwara Dera Kar Sewa and ended at the Committee Chowk. They also observed two-minute silence.
Jagdeep Singh Aulakh, state core committee member of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni), said, “We took out a candle march on the call of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.”
Meanwhile, Bhartiya Kisan Mazdoor Naujawan Union president Rajinder Arya Dadupur criticised the statement of Agriculture Minister JP Dalal on the deaths of farmers.
Addressing a kisan-mazdoor panchayat at the Indri grain market here, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said, “Till Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the slogan of ‘Jai Kisan’ and fulfilled our demands, we will not allow the government to sit in peace.”
He said, “We will hold mahapanchayats across the nation to raise the voice of farmers. It will help us strengthen our organisation. We will be visiting Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in the coming days.”
Other leaders, including Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh Charuni, Dr Darshan Pal and Choudhary Yudhvir Singh, reiterated their demand for the repeal of the farm laws. They asked the protesters to be ready for a long battle.
Rajewal lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “andolanjivi” and “parjivi” remarks against the farmers.
Earlier, during his address, Tikait raised the issue of pension benefit for MPs and MLAs and not employees.
At the same time, he appreciated the farmers from Haryana, Punjab, UP, Delhi and other states, who were associated with the stir despite adverse circumstances.
Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat next on agenda
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have to raise the slogan of ‘Jai Kisan’. We will hold mahapanchayats across the nation to raise the voice of farmers. It will help us strengthen our organisation. We will be visiting Gujarat and MP in the coming days. — Rakesh Tikait, farmer leader
Addressing the media, Rajewal and Tikait objected to Haryana Agriculture Minister JP Dalal’s controversial remark on the deaths of agitating farmers. “Instead of expressing his condolences, the minister is making a mockery of the deaths,” said Tikait.
Rajewal said their agitation had become a people’s movement. “We are getting support from all sections of society. People in large numbers are attending kisan panchayats,” said Rajewal, adding that they were ready for a long haul.
On the PM’s statement that he is just a phone call away for talks, Tikait urged Modi to provide his phone number, so that their leaders could contact him to resolve the issue.
Dr Darshan Pal said 230 farmers had died during the agitation, but no one from the government had expressed condolences. On his appeal, the gathering observed a one-minute silence to pay tribute to the deceased farmers.
