Farmers Movement Archive

SGPC comes out in support of farmers

While the BJP has targeted the farmers’ unions over the murder of a young Dalit man at the protest site at the Singhu border in Sonipat, Haryana, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) — the body responsible for the management of all gurdwaras — on Saturday said the “unfortunate incident” was being used to tarnish the ongoing farmers’ movement. SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said the unfortunate incident would not have taken place had the government been serious about resolving the issues of the farmers. “Some people were deliberately trying to tarnish the image of the peasant struggle and, as a result, such incidents were taking place. Conspiracies are being hatched to discredit the peasant struggle, which is worrisome,” she said. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa demanded an inquiry from a sitting judge into the incident. Hitting out at the BJP-Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) Government in Haryana, he said the State Government and the police could not shrug responsibility for the incident as they were accountable for law and order. “This is very sensitive issue, which is related to the religious beliefs of the people and, on the other hand, is associated with the farmers who have been peacefully protesting from almost a year against the draconian farm laws of the Union Government.. At this crucial juncture, it was very important to identify anti-social elements inciting religious sentiments and defaming the farmers agitation as these kinds of desperate attempts, aimed to sabotage this most peaceful and well-disciplined agitation, were already being made by some disgruntled elements,” he said. On the other hand, BJP Punjab State president Ashwani Sharma blamed the farmer unions for the “rising violent and criminal incidents” at the protest sites at Singhu-Kundli on the Delhi border. Mr. Sharma said the farmer unions were responsible for the safety of people as they did not let the police come near those participating in the protests. “The farmer leaders have been giving provocative speeches only to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of the country. The protest sites have become areas of heinous crimes and every time a crime is committed, the union leaders immediately distance themselves from it. The recent murder of a Dalit is another example as the leaders have distanced themselves from the Nihangs,” said Mr. Sharma here. Complaint submitted Meanwhile, Several Schedule Caste (SC) organisations submitted complaints to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman, Vijay Sampla, seeking justice for the Singhu victim. The SC organisations included Bhartiya Baudh Sangh, Rashtriya Bhantu Sansi Samaj Vikas Sangh, Shri Guru Ravidas Vishwa Mahapeeth (Delhi Province), Jai Baba Rama Peer Janmotsav Committee, National Scheduled Caste Alliance, Delhi Prantiya Raigar Panchayat, Valmiki Mahapanchayat, Shri Sant Kabir Janmotsav Committee, Akhil Bhartiya Bairwa Vikas Sangh, SC/ST/OBC & Minority Employees Welfare Association and Jangpura Bhogal SC/ST Resident Welfare Association.

The Hindu

2021-10-17

CHANDIGARH