Farmers Movement Archive

Tarn Taran diary: Dilapidated 100-yard stretch cries for attention

Poll a litmus test for farmer organisationsThe forthcoming elections would be a litmus test for the farmers’ organisations in the district. They were divided over the issue of being a part of the poll. As many as 22 farmer organisations, under the leadership of Balbir Singh Ralewal, had entered the fray under the banner of the Sanyukt Samaj Morcha (SSM) which had declared the candidature of two out of the four seats of the district. The district has Tarn Taran, Patti, Khemkaran and Khadoor Sahib constituencies. Harjinder Singh Tanda from Khadoor Sahib and Dr Sukhmandeep Singh Dhillon from Tarn Taran have been declared as the SSM nominees. There were certain farmer organisations which had affiliation with one or the other political party. They had been fighting unsuccessful elections for the last decades directly or indirectly. These were the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha (RMPI), Kul Hind Kisan Sabha (CPI), Kirti Kisan Union and Kirti Kisan Union Punjab. The other farmer organisations, namely Kisan Mazdoor Sangharash Committee, Punjab, Kisan Sangharash Committee Punjab (led by Kanwalpreet Pannu), Azad Kisan Sangharash Committee Punjab, Kisan Sangharash Committee Punjab (Kot Budha) too were existing in the district which are said to be non-political. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Urgahan), too had made its inroads during the Delhi agitation in the district. The Kisan Mazdoor Sangharash Committee, Punjab, had its remarkable mass base among the farmers in the district. The name “Kisan Sangharash Committee” had become much popular among the farmers and other sections across the state. In 2000, a group of youths with the Left leaning ideology had formed Kisan Sangharash Committee, Punjab, with Kanwalpreet Pannu as its state convener only to fight for the farmers’ cause. The organisation faced a split in 2007. Similarly, other groups too were formed from the same organisation with the popular name of ‘Kisan Sangharsh Committee’. Satnam Singh Pannu, state president of the KMSC, said, the organisation was not participating in the election as ideologically it is of the view that the elections were not the solution for the farmers’ problems and it would mislead their agitation. He said the organisation would not campaign in the favour of any candidate or the political party. Inderjit Singh Kot Budha, state president of the KSC (Kot Budha) also said the organisation too was not participating in the election fray. It is yet to be observed what would be the results of the present situation on the farmers’ unity. The present situation must put its shadow on the campaign of the candidates come in the fray.Sanyukt SaMaj morcha gets a shot in the armAn NRI medico Dr Swaiman Singh, hailing from Pakhoke village has taken the command of election campaign of Sanyukt Samaj Morcha (SSM) in the district. During the farmers’ Delhi protest, Dr Swaiman Singh, who is settled in California (USA), came to the protest site to provide free medical services for a few days but due to his dedication for the farmers’ cause, he almost forgot to return to the USA. His family is well known in the political circles as Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke, SGPC member, (former President of the SGPC too) is his uncle. He was in Tarn Taran a few days back at the time of opening of the election office of Dr Sukhmandeep Singh Dhillon, SSM candidate from Tarn Taran. Dr Swainam Singh is the main attraction among people. The SSM had declared the candidature of two of the four seats of the district, who are DR Sukhmandeep Singh (Tarn Taran) and Harjinder Singh Tanda (Khadoor Sahib).(Contributed by Gurbaxpuri)

The Tribune

2022-01-20