Farmer unions ready 2nd line of leadership if top brass arrested
FARIDKOT : The farmer unions are readying their second line of leadership to take charge of the ongoing agitation against the Centre’s contentious agriculture laws amid apprehensions that their top brass booked in the wake of the Red Fort incident could be arrested.
Several farmer leaders have been charged with sedition, attempt to murder and rioting by Delhi Police.
A case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was also registered by the Delhi Police’s special cell in connection with violence during the farmers’ tractor parade on January 26.
Kirti Kisan Union’s state vice president Rajinder Singh Deep Singhwala, who was also booked for the violence, said the Delhi Police can go to any extent to suppress the agitation.
“The violence was planned at the behest of the centre government to tarnish our image. Besides me, our union president Nirbhay Singh Dhudhike is also named in the FIRS. Since they may even attempt to arrest us, we have discussed the future line of action with all the union members and leaders as who will take over to continue the agitation,” he said.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (Doaba) president Manjit Singh Rai said the government is trying to end the stir through police action, but it will not succeed. “To weaken the protest, they may try to arrest the union leaders in connection with the tractor parade. But we will not budge till the three agriculture laws are repealed,” he added.
Jagmohan Singh, general secretary BKU Dakaunda, said, “The tractor parade incident is a conspiracy which has exposed the government’s true intentions. They cannot break our morale with such acts as the support for farmers is growing across the country and they will have to repeal these laws soon. We are fully prepared for any eventuality.”