Farmers Movement Archive

At Bhagat Singh’s birthplace, Left and Sikh groups put on a united show

BANGA: Thousands thronged a conference organised by farm organisations at Khatkar Kalan, SBS Nagar, to mark the martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev — the first such event at the birthplace of Bhagat Singh since January 26. The event became a show of convergence for different ideologies, especially Panthic and Leftist. Almost all speakers emphasised on the need to strengthen unity among groups protesting against the Centre’s three agro-market laws. Sanyukta Kisan Morcha leaders, Nihang Sikh leaders, Sikh preachers and groups, and farm organisations came on a common platform. The common refrain was to remain united and sink past differences. Punjabi singers and kabaddi players also participated. Originally, the pandal for the conference was raised at Khatkar Kalan. But, after rain damaged it in the night, farm leaders raised a new stage in the shed of the grain market in Banga. The conference, named ‘Kisan-Mazdoor Ekta Mahasabha’, was organised by Bharti Kisan Union (Doaba), whose president Manjit Singh Rai and general secretary Satnam Singh Sahni managed to make the conference a convergence point for groups from diverse ideologies. Nihang leaders Baba Nihal Singh Harianvelan, Balbir Singh and Avtar Singh, Baba Sewa Singh (Khadoor Sahib), who also got Padma Shri for his services to environment, and leaders of other Sikh groups said they would remain united and provide all support to the protest on the borders of Delhi, while farm leaders would keep on leading from the front. SKM leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal, Darshan Pal, Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Surjit Singh Phool also addressed the gathering. They said people should be careful of “government’s attempts” to create differences among stakeholders of the protest. Phool underlined that BKU (Doaba) had succeeded in uniting all sections and this was a big achievement. They said Hardeep Singh Dibdiba, grandfather of Navreet Singh, who died during the tractor parade in Delhi on January 26, said differences were fading and the need was to unite youth behind farm leaders. Dal Khalsa leader Hardeep Sngh Mehraj, who organised a rally at Mehraj on a call given by Lakha Sidhana, also addressed the gathering and there were slogans in support of Sidhana too. Dalit sants, represented by Sant Kulwant Ram of Sri Guru Ravidas Sadhu Sampardai Society, said they would also continue supporting the farm movement. “It has united people,” he said. Babbu Mann was the most prominent singer to attend the rally. Later in his speech, Mann said he made it clear to the organisers that he would come only if all sides would stay united. Leftist Sonia Mann takes pride in her ‘Panthic connection’ and then refers to Lenin An interesting manifestation of convergence of Leftist and Panthic identities at farmers’ conference at Banga came out when actor Sonia Mann, whose father Baldev Singh Mann - a Leftist activist was killed by militants and herself known for her Left leanings, especially introduced her uncle (massar) Beant Singh Khiala, younger brother of Major General Shabeg Singh, who had strategised fortification of Darbar Sahib complex before Army action in June 1984 and was killed inside. “People only know me as a daughter of a communist but today I am disclosing another aspect of my life that my massar ji , who is brother of Major General Shabeg Singh, played a crucial role in my upbringing after my father’s death. We have two sacrifices in our family – one of my father and other of Major General Shabeg Singh.” Khiala then addressed the gathering and said that country was being destroyed with wrong policies. Sonia in her own separate address later asked people to read Lenin also.

The Times of India

2021-03-24

Chandigarh