Farmers Movement Archive

At Tikri, Punjab poll is hot topic of discussion among farmers

Tribune News ServiceJhajjar, December 7After the repeal of three farm laws, upcoming assembly polls in Punjab have now become a hot topic of discussion among protesting farmers at Tikri border.They are not only taking updates about the poll promises being made by the political parties to woo electors but also analysing the prevailing political scenario in Punjab.Interestingly, they also do not hesitate to claim that farmers hold the key to power in Punjab hence they would decide the shape and direction of state politics in the upcoming elections.“Since the protest is likely to end soon as the Centre has no other option except to accept our pending demands, the topic of discussion has changed now. Farmers are now talking about emerging political equations in Punjab and also eyeing on the farmer unions’ next move in connection with assembly polls there,” says Jaswinder Singh, a farmer.  Jagsher of Moga said after winning over a yearlong battle from the Centre, now the farmers were ready to play a crucial role in Punjab elections too to show their strength yet again so they not only deliberate about the political scenario with fellow protests but also get report from ground zero by talking to family members and friends in Punjab. Social media is also proving helpful to a large extent in getting updates about political activities taking place in Punjab, he added.Balwinder from Mansa said they would teach a lesson to anti-farmer leaders in the elections while Buta Singh from Muktsar said he would follow whatever decision of the Samyukt Kisan Morch (SKM) regarding the polls.Gurchant Singh of Bhatinda questioned how they can stay without discussing the Punjab polls in a situation when the next battle was to be fought in their home state against those supporting the corporate houses. “Many farmers want the farm leaders to jump into the fray in order to give a suitable alternative to people of Punjab for electing a pro-farmer government but a final call in this respect is to be taken by the SKM,” he added.A senior farm leader on anonymity said, “There is immense pressure on us to contest the elections but our first priority is to ensure full victory of the ongoing agitation by getting our pending demands met.”

The Tribune

2021-12-07