Farmers Movement Archive

Mahapanchayats cancelled in Punjab

Tribune News ServiceSonepat, February 16The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Tuesday decided to cancel all conferences and mahapanchayats announced by various farm organisations in Punjab in the days to come. Its leaders asserted that ensuring the success of their ‘rail roko’ on Thursday was their priority.The decision to cancel conferences and mahapanchayats was taken at a meeting of 32 farm organisations at the Singhu border to chalk out their strategy for further strengthening the agitation. The decision was announced by SKM leaders during a press conference on Tuesday evening.“There is no need for conferences and mahapanchayats in Punjab at this stage. All 32 organisations from Punjab have unanimously decided to cancel all conferences and mahapanchayats. We have decided to concentrate on making the ‘rail roko’ successful and raising numbers at the Delhi borders,” said Buta Singh, a leader of the SKM.He said they had appealed to all panchayats and farm outfits to cancel their scheduled conferences. He pointed out that preparations for the ‘rail roko’ were under way. All farm organisations were set to show the strength of famers by stopping trains with the help of locals for four hours on Thursday, he asserted.“Since the struggle is likely to go on for long and the weather is changing, the SKM is making arrangements for fans, coolers, water, electricity and tents for protesting farmers,” he said. Rubbishing reports that the number of protesters was going down at the Delhi borders, farmer leaders said the number was swelling every day as farmers were fighting a decisive battle and had vowed to win.

The Tribune

2021-02-17