Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers to form joint toll group too

Jind: In the line of Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), farmers in Haryana planned to form a Sanyukt Toll Morcha (STM) to coordinate with SKM and called a meeting of representatives of farmers protesting in all toll plazas on Saturday at Khatkar toll plaza of Jind district. Reportedly, farmers have been protesting at 17 toll plazas in different districts, including Jind, Hisar, Bhiwani, Sirsa, Rohtak, Panipat, Kurukshetra, Karnal and Bhiwani to press the demand of repealing three contentious farm laws passed by centre in June 2020. Notably, farmers in Haryana had ensured a free passage for commuters at all toll plazas like their Punjab counterparts from December 26, observing a SKM call. According to farmers, they will hold a meeting at Khatkar toll plaza where they will form a joint committee in which members from each toll plaza will be involved. The committee would be known as STM, which will coordinate with SKM, a 40-member committee and spearheading the agitation from Singhu border of Sonipat district. The STM will coordinate with SKM in future so that their call can be implemented effectively at state level in a disciplined manner. Moreover, farmers will make a plan and strategy to provide a strong back up to their counterparts if Bastara toll plaza like incidents happened again, where over 10 farmers were injured after police used force on the behest of then sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Ayush Sinha.Talking to TOI, Captain (retired) Bhupender Jaglan, a key member at Khatkar toll plaza said, “We are planning to induct a president of STM along with his team, who will ensure consistent contacts with SKM for implementing the calls to strengthen the ongoing protest against the anti farmers laws. Moreover, now presence would be enhanced at toll plaza and Delhi borders as the Modi government is hatching a conspiracy again to split the agitation. If action is taken at Delhi borders our sanyukt toll morcha will ensure strong reactions in all parts of Haryana promptly. The saffron party started using force on farmers to suppress the voice who have been sitting from November 27 peacefully for genuine demands, therefore farmers are getting ready to fight against their ill will,” he added. Jind BKU (charuni) president Azad Palwan said “the Modi led government again seeking conspiracy to defame the innocent farmers. But we will ensure their politics with our tactics like farmers have proved in the past. We are planning to take the agitation at village level now like Delhi borders and toll plazas. The Modi led government should use their energy to speak with farmers which is closed from January 22, 20201 rather than wasting time on hatching conspiracy,” he asserted.

The Times of India

2021-09-18

Chandigarh