Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab: Gurnam Singh Charuni to launch political party today

AMBALA: BKU (Charuni) national president Gurnam Singh Charuni returned to a rousing welcome at his native village in Kurukshetra district on Thursday night, as he returned home after the farmers’ protest and paying obeisance with Fateh March at Sri Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar. He also hoisted the flag of BKU (Charuni) at his village along with his supporters. Charuni is scheduled to announce a new political party at a press conference at Chandigarh Press Club on Saturday. Under his Mission Punjab 2022, he is keen that farmers, labourers, traders and the general public contest the upcoming elections collectively to sideline the traditional political parties and their leaders. Talking to TOI on Friday, Charuni said, “I will not contest the elections from Punjab but will field candidates for these polls from our party. We are going to launch our political party in Chandigarh on Saturday.” “Earlier some farm leaders were opposing my decision to enter politics, but now nobody is (opposing me). Punjab farm unions are holding secret meetings. They held a meeting yesterday (Thursday), today and one is scheduled for tomorrow also. Some unions of Punjab are happy in staying neutral while some are interested in elections but they are still planning on how and from where to contest. As of now, we are going ahead by ourselves and not in talks with anyone,” he said. Charuni played an important role during the year-long farmers’ protest against the three farm laws by mobilising the Haryana farmers to the Delhi border and clearing the passage for Punjab farmers following Delhi Chalo call on November 25, 2020. He was also part of the nine-member committee of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), that spreadheaded the protest and forced the Centre to repeal the controversial agri-marketing laws. On December 15, Charuni, BKU Krantikari leader Surjit Singh Phul, farmers of Punjab and Haryana, Deep Sidhu, Lakha Sidhana, Dal Khalsa leader Kanwar Pal Singh Bittu, Sikh historian Dr Sukhpreet Singh Udoke, Sikh scholar Mandhir Singh, Nihang jathebandis (organisations) reached Amritsar. They was part of a Fateh March (victory march), led by a specially decorated vehicle carrying Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the form of nagar kirtan (religious procession), from Singhu border to Sri Harmandar Sahib. In Amritsar, as they gathered in front of the Akal Takht Sahib, Charuni thanked all the Punjab farmers, unions and nihangs for supporting the farmers’ protest. “We are very thankful to all on behalf of Haryana and it has been a blessing of the malik (God). We said it earlier too that it (farmers’ protest) is dharam yudh (struggle for righteouness). (PM Narendra) Modi Ji wanted to hand over the food of entire nation to Ambani,Adani, but we succeeded in stopping him,” he said. “The Akal Takht Sahib, where we are sitting, is a common place of Miri and Piri (Sikh doctrine of close relationship between faith and politics)... There are two Nishan Sahibs, one of Miri and one of Piri... our politicians are looting us... by forming laws. We are not being looted by angrej (British)... It was easy to deal with them (British) but hard to do the same with those who are our own... there is a need to cleanse politics. We should keep in mind this sangam (of Miri-Piri) and remember the God as well as the worldly duty too,” he had told the gathering.

The Times of India

2021-12-18

Chandigarh