Farmers Movement Archive

Kasganj mahapanchayat: Farmers of western UP to reoccupy Chilla border

AGRA: A decision was taken at a ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ held in Soron block of Kasganj district on Friday to reclaim the Chilla border. The meeting headed by former general secretary of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bhanu) Kuldeep Pandey was attended by thousands of farmers from different districts of western UP. Talking to TOI, Pandey said, “We will reclaim the Chilla border. The mahapanchayat has declared complete support for Rakesh Tikait in fight against the three farm laws.” Earlier, BKU (Bhanu) chief Bhanu Pratap Singh had vacated farmers' protest site at Chilla border following the Republic Day tractor parade violence. Kuldeep Pandey along with his supporters had left the organization and declared support for Tikait. Going against the leadership, over seventy leaders of BKU (Bhanu) from different districts of western UP declared support for Kuldeep Pandey in relaunching protest at Chilla border. During the kisan mahapanchayat, the decision was taken to launch a new organization – Bharatiya Kisan Adhikar Sangharsh Samitti (BKASS) which will spearhead the protest at Chilla border. Kuldeep said, “If the central government fails to withdraw the three farm laws in next ten days then farmers in large numbers under the banner of BKASS will march to Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 17. We will leave a memorandum for the President to pursue our demands with the central government. On the same day, we will be relaunching protests at Chilla border. Like the Ghazipur border, the protest at Chilla border will continue under the leadership of Rakesh Tikait.” “In next three days, we will be marching to the Ghazipur border in large numbers to support Rakesh Tikait and strengthen the farmers’ protest. The central government will have to take back the three farm laws and guarantee MSP for the farmers,” he said. Former Aligarh division in-charge of BKU (Bhanu) Shyamveer Singh Chauhan said, “To withdraw from the protest at Chilla border was a personal decision of Bhanu Pratap Singh. Majority of the workers were not in favour of it. The incident of Rakesh Tikait breaking down at the Ghazipur border resulted in a massive discontent among farmers and our members. We have decided to part ways with BKU (Bhanu). The leadership of the organization is hand in glove with the government. They have lost all respect among farmers.”

The Times of India

2021-02-06

Agra