Farmers Movement Archive

Day later, Sidhana ‘pardon’ creates discord in unions

Bathinda: The decision of Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and other farmers’ unions to resolve all issues pertaining to the role of gangster-turned-social activist Lakhbir Singh, alias Lakha Sidhana, in the Republic Day violence at Red Fort has led to dissension among Punjab’s farm outfits. On Thursday evening, they had issued a statement, stating they decided to “forgive” Sidhana as the ongoing agitation against the Centre’s three contentious three farm laws “needs young blood”. A day later, questions were raised on the impartiality and limitation of the three-member sub-committee formed to speak to Sidhana or his associates before readmitting him into the struggle. BKU (Ekta Dakonda) president Buta Singh Burjgill, under whose supervision the resolution was passed to seek clarifications from Lakha, on Friday said they will seek an explanation from the three-member committee regarding the announcement on Sidhana without putting the matter before the 32 farm organisations and SKM. The committee has farm leaders Darshan Pal, Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Baldev Singh Sirsa as members. Their representative Kaka Singh held a hurried press conference to announce the “pardon” to Sidhana and allowing him to be part of the morcha in the future. “A meeting of 32 farm organisations was held under my presidentship on March 24, wherein it was decided that if Lakha Sidhana feels sorry for the happenings on the night of January 25, marching on the undecided route on January 26 and promises not to repeat such things in future, then he could be allowed to speak at the SKM stage. To contact him or his representatives, a three-member committee was formed. Baldev Singh Sirsa was present in the meeting, whereas representatives of Darshan Pal and Dallewal were present and they have put their signatures on the resolution,” Burjgill told TOI. “It was decided that after taking the views of Lakha, the committee will put up the matter before 32 farm organisations and SKM, who will make the final decision. But the three (committee members) made a unilateral announcement without taking us into confidence. We will seek an explanation from the three in a meeting to be organised in a couple of days,” he added. Another morcha leader Rajinder Singh said the announcement by the committee should have been avoided and made by the SKM. When contacted, committee member Sirsa, in whose presence the announcement was made, said, “Whatever is to be said will be done in the meeting”. Dallewal was also evasive, saying, “I have been away from Delhi for the last few days and will check what transpired yesterday. I will speak only after checking the details.”

The Times of India

2021-04-03

Chandigarh