Farmers Movement Archive

At Barnala rally, Punjab unionists call for unity

BARNALA: Taking the fight against central farm laws to the next level, especially to uplift the struggle after a pause upon the happenings of January 26, a massive rally was organised by farm organisation BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) and farm labour organisation Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union (PKMU) in Barnala on Sunday. Giving credence to unity, many leaders from Sanyukta Kisan Morcha attended the rally despite the fact that farm organisations from Punjab had decided against holding mahapanchayats in the state. As BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) was not part of that decision, it went ahead with the ‘Kisan Mazdoor Ekta’ rally. Going by the massive response, leaders of farm organisations appreciated the step, saying a rally at such a massive scale lifted the morale of struggling organisations. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said there was a need to strengthen the non-religious character of this struggle and to protect it from the interference of opportunistic political parties, which was possible with the unity of farmers. Commenting on the incidents of January 26, he said the Centre tried to communalise the farm struggle, but its attempt was defeated. He said the people’s struggle against imperialist multinational companies was “true patriotism”. Farm leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said this was a historic struggle. “To make it successful, unity should be achieved by overcoming the differences of caste, religion and regions. Farmers who are protesting on the borders of Delhi will script a victory with their patience and sacrifice,” he said. PKMU state president Lachman Singh Sewewala said the issue of farm laws would harm employment and livelihood of agricultural labourers. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) women wing leader Harinder Kaur Bindu said the women have greatly contributed in this agitation and will continue to do so. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) vice-president Jhanda Singh Jethuke and general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri said the struggle should become a struggle of all toiling people of Punjab, in which everyone should participate. They asked Punjab government to its promise to repeal the contractual farming law and should restrain from introducing any similar act, as was done the anti-farmer amendments in the APMC Act 2017, which should be revoked Ruldu Singh Mansa also addressed the gathering.

The Times of India

2021-02-22

Chandigarh