Farmers Movement Archive

Farm laws’ issue simmers, poll activity on back burner

Raikot/Jagraon: The assembly elections are a few months away, but unlike the past, political activity is still to hit a feverish pitch here. The villagers say they are focused on farm agitation and political parties need to get the black laws repealed first. “As of now our focus is on the agitation against farm laws, so no one is discussing elections. Some time ago, a political party had painted its publicity material on the walls at two places in the village, but someone blackened it. During earlier Vidhan Sabha elections, politicians would start making rounds of our village by this time, but till now no one is seen here,” says Chamkaur Singh, a villager from Chakkar. He says things may change after model code of conduct comes into force. Villagers may allow political activity, but will ask parties to pressurise the Union government to scrap farm laws, he adds. The scene was no different in the neighbouring Malla village. “Though there is no political activity, once polls are announced, we will participate in the democratic process. It’s farmers’ agitation that is on everyone’s mind and the voters will set the agenda for political parties,” says 52-year-old villager Jagtar Singh. He says the fate of opposition parties will depend on how chief minister Charanjit Channi’s government performs before the polls are announced. Jagdeep Singh, a political activist from the village who owes allegiance to the ruling Congress, says there is no political activity, but there is still time for elections and voters change in a day if things on ground alter. However, a section of villagers wants the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha to field candidates. “Many feel that the Morcha should field candidates, so that they can fight against the farm laws. These laws are the main issue this time as these concern our present and future generations. We will fight till we win,” says Paramjit Singh from Hathur village, which is among many hamlets in the district where posters banning political activity were put up.A villager from Raikot says they feel the Centre will not scrap farm laws soon, so the fight against these will have to be fought after elections too. Besides farmers’ agitation, other issues include drugs, sacrilege incidents, unemployment and development, he adds.

The Times of India

2021-10-18

Ludhiana