Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab farm leaders make pitch for more mobilisation

Bathinda: Farmers were urged to intensify the protest against the contentious agri-laws passed by the Narendra Modi-led Centre at the first Kisan Mahapanchayat organised in Punjab on Thursday. Slogans of ‘jittange zaroor, jaari jung rakhio’ (will surely win, let continue the fight) and ‘ladange, jittange” (will fight and win) rang out as farmer leaders solicited support. All farm groups came together to mobilise peasants and said that the movement now focused not only on the Modi government but also on World Trade Organization (WTO), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. They alleged that these entities are mainly responsible for framing of “anti-farmer” policies and the Modi government is only implementing the policies in accordance with their instructions. Sources said farm leaders felt the need for greater mobilization from Punjab as Haryana seemed to have taken the lead after the incidents of January 26. The growing stature of Rakesh Tikait also made supporters of Balbir Singh Rajewal uneasy, sources said. Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal and BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan tried to assure people that the protest has not weakened after January 26 but is still vibrant. They underlined the need for greater mobilization to keep the movement strong. In a statement issued later in the day, Samyukta Kisan Morcha accused the Prime Minister of making anti-farmer statements and imposing laws which were not demanded by farmers. The morcha stated that the government is not serious about genuine demands of farmers, including of debt waiver and full price for produce. The Morcha declared that kisan mahapanchayats would be organised all over the country in the coming days. It was stated that teams of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha are planning state-wise mahapanchayats. Mahapanchayats will be held on February 12 at Bilari, Moradabad, on February 13 at PDM College Bahadurgarh Bypass, on February 18 at Raisingh Nagar, Sri Ganganagar Rajasthan, on February 19 at Hanumangarh, Rajasthan and on February 23 at Sikar, Rajasthan.

The Times of India

2021-02-12

Chandigarh