Punjab: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) have finally agreed to join the third round of unity talks with the SKM (All India) on February 12. The meeting is scheduled to take place two days before the protesting forums in Shambhu and Khanauri are scheduled to hold talks with the Centre over their demands. The earlier two rounds of discussions between the farmer groups remained inconclusive as differences emerged among them over a common strategy for their joint agitation against the Centre.
While the current protest has been limited to demands including loan waiver and a law ensuring minimum support price (MSP) for crops, the SKM (All India) has been claiming that the MSP is secondary to the draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing as it includes provisions of the three now-repealed farm laws. KMM convenor Sarwan Singh Pandher and SKM (non-political) leader Kaka Singh Kotra said they would send a delegation for talks with SKM (All India) leaders in Chandigarh on February 12. “We advocate maximum unity. It is up to SKM (All India) whether they want maximum or minimum unity,” Pandher said. Meanwhile, he hinted at resuming the agitation on February 25 if the talks fail.
Youth deported from the US invited
Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the farmer unions have decided to invite youth deported from the US to their mahapanchayat. He said the way illegal migrants were handcuffed and chained was a violation of human rights and the UN Convention against Torture.
