Will not take part in ‘Dilli Chalo’ march, says Samyukt Kisan Morcha (All-India)

Mohit Khanna

Patiala, February 20

Amid rising tension along the Punjab-Haryana border following the rejection of the government’s proposal by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (All-India), an umbrella organisation of various farm unions, the SKM has clarified that its affiliated unions will not participate in the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest on February 21 from the Shambhu border.

Prem Singh Bhangu, president of the All-India Kisan Federation (AIKF) and spokesperson for the SKM, reiterated that the group would not be part of the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest.

Bhangu outlined the planned activities, including making all toll plazas in the state free till February 22, organising round-the-clock demonstrations in front of the residences of BJP MPs, MLAs, and district unit presidents for three days, and scheduling an all-India meeting of the SKM on February 22 to chalk out further action.

Meanwhile, the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan), a member of the national coordination panel of the SKM (All-India), has announced its support for protesters at Shambhu and Khanauri barriers. But it will not send its members to these places.

Led by Joginder Singh Ugrahan, it is one of the largest farm unions in the state with significant support in Malwa, especially Sangrur.

Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, general secretary of the BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan), stated that their volunteers were engaged in pre-scheduled protests, including sit-ins, outside the residences of state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, former Chief Minister and BJP leader Capt Amarinder Singh, former MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon and other BJP leaders as well as outside toll plazas.

“We have similar demands but the method of protest is different,” said Kokri Kalan.

Besides the legal guarantee for the MSP, farmers are demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s “C2 plus 50 per cent” formula on all agricultural products along with assured markets, among various other demands.