Punjab: Farmers plan to intensify protest at Shambhu border

Punjab: Farmers are set to intensify their protest by holding a gathering at Shambhu on January 6, the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. Meanwhile, various farmer unions appear divided over participation in the “Kisan Mahapanchayat” at Khanauri and the “Mahapanchayat” to be held on January 4 at Tohana in Haryana. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, who is leading the agitation at Shambhu while Jagjit Singh Dallewal continues his indefinite fast at Khanauri, said they will hold an important meeting at Shambhu on Wednesday and their agitation will continue till all the demands of the farmers are met. After a meeting with farmer leaders at Shambhu, Pandher said the Morcha leaders have decided to scale up efforts by mobilising more participants at Shambhu.
The leadership demanded that the Punjab government should pass a resolution in the assembly to reject the Centre’s privatisation-driven agri marketing policies and support the demands of the farmers. He said, “We are adamant on our demands to roll back anti-farmer policies including privatisation of agriculture mandis. The Bhagwant Mann government should take decisive steps in support of the agitating farmers in the upcoming assembly session. A ‘Delhi march’ will be announced soon as part of their ongoing agitation.” “Despite the long-running protest, the government has not taken any action. The Morcha has invited residents of villages around Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib to join the Shambhu programme on January 6 in large numbers. We will raise all our issues before the gathering on that day.”

Meanwhile, farmer unions are divided as two programmes are scheduled on January 4, one in Tohana in Haryana and the other in Khanauri. While some leaders are advising union leaders to postpone the Khanauri programme by a day or two, some others want the Tohana event to be held later. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have decided to call a “Kisan Mahapanchayat” at the Khanauri dharna site on January 4. Farmers from across the country, including Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have been invited to attend the mahapanchayat. Dallewal is scheduled to address the farmers on January 4. On the other hand, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers, has scheduled a “mahapanchayat” in Tohana town of Fatehabad district in Haryana on January 4 in which over 400 organisations from across the country are likely to participate. The “mahapanchayat” will be attended by Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Darshan Pal, Rakesh Tikait and several other leaders from different states.