Farmers Movement Archive

One year of Punjab farmer unions joining hands to fight farm laws together

BATHINDA: The farmer organisations from Punjab observed a year of joining hands against the farm laws. It was on September 19, 2020 that the seeds of the farmers’ struggle were sown in Moga. On this day, different farmer unions that were protesting against farm ordinances brought in by Narendra Modi government in June 2020, decided to join hands and put up a collective struggle. The coordinated work initiated by 32 farm unions of Punjab on this day laid the foundation for a larger pan-Indian coalition that was subsequently created on October 27 and November 4. Thus began Sanyukt Kisan Morcha’s struggle at the all-India level. SKM also said they have not participated in the meeting called by Haryana government to discuss giving way to Delhi from borders as it is Haryana and Delhi police who have put up barricades and blocked the roads. According to SKM, protesting farmers have created clear paths on both sides of the road at Singhu border as well as Tikri border for traffic to move, and have been forced to occupy only one side of the road at Ghazipur border. Same is the situation at Shahjahanpur border and other morchas, they added. SKM reminded Union government and state governments concerned that the Supreme Court in its order has made them responsible for coordinating, whereas farmer unions were being dragged into this by Haryana government. SKM stated that a meeting was organised on Sunday at Mohali to appeal to milk vendors and vegetable sellers to support the Bharat Bandh. Reports indicate that planning meetings are happening in different parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra and Telangana. “There has been tremendous response from merchants and traders, employees’ unions, lawyers’ associations, transporters’ unions, trade and worker unions and others to the bandh proposal so far, and support has been pledged by different sections of society. Many political parties have also pledged their support,” stated SKM.

The Times of India

2021-09-20

Amritsar