Farmers Movement Archive

Samyukta Kisan Morcha to show black flags to Gurnam Singh Charuni in Punjab

Karnal, November 18The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has decided to show black flags to BKU (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni, who earned the ire of the farmers’ outfit for giving the “Mission Punjab” call and participating in political activities in Punjab.Morcha opposes his political activitiesThe SKM has raised objections to Charuni’s involvement in political activities. Politics is not SKM’s domain.The outfit will oppose anyone with the political motive. Balbir Singh Rajewal, SKM leaderFarmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal told the media the decision was taken in a meeting yesterday.“The SKM has decided to show black flags to leaders in Punjab. Charuni has been bracketed with them for his political activities,” said Rajewal.He was in the city to get his statement recorded before the one-man commission of Justice Somnath Aggarwal (retd), who is inquiring into the sequence of events that led to the police lathicharge on farmers at the Bastara toll plaza on August 28.“The SKM has raised objections to Charuni’s involvement in political activities. Politics is not SKM’s domain. The farmers’ outfit will oppose anyone with the political motive,” said Rajewal.He, however, denied any rift in the SKM.Charuni had yesterday called off his outfit’s Tikri march, claiming that he did not want to send out a wrong message in view of the SKM’s “padyatra”. He had also said Punjab leaders were jealous of him because of, what he claimed to be, his popularity.“Charuni’s popularity can be gauged by the fact that only 80 persons assemble whenever he calls a meeting,” said Rajewal.On the SKM’s November 24 march to the Delhi borders, Rajewal said: “The farmers’ outfit will review the decision on the march in the next meeting. The march will be up to Singhu and Tikri borders, not India Gate.”About his statement to the inquiry committee, he said: “I told the commission that I was not in Karnal on August 28. Action must be taken against IAS officer Ayush Sinha for his ‘break the head’ remark.”

The Tribune

2021-11-19