Farmers ready to escalate stir to counter govt’s ‘repressive’ steps
UNION ANNOUNCES SERIES OF EVENTS BEGINNING FEB 23, BKU-UGRAHAN ASKS FARMERS TO REACH DELHI IN LARGE NUMBERS FOR FEB 27 RALLY
NEW DELHI: Protesting farmers on Sunday announced a series of events from February 23-27 to intensify their agitation against the three new agricultural laws as they accused the government of adopting “repressive” measures against them. They also said they will soon devise a strategy to keep the protest going for long.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the protests, said at a press conference that under their proposed escalation programme, February 23 will be observed as “Pagdi Sambhal Diwas” and February 24 as “Daman Virodhi
Diwas”, essentially to underline that farmers must be respected and no “repressive measures” should be taken against them.
The union said February 26 will be observed as “Yuva Kisan Diwas” (youth farmers day) and February 27 as “Mazdoor Kisan Ekta Divws” (farmer-labourer unity day).
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at Delhi’s borders since November 26, demanding a repeal of these laws.
“The government is adopting all the repressive measures, mischief and manipulation, including arrests, detentions and registration of cases against the protesters. The Singhu border has been fortified and appears to be an international border,” farmer leader Yogendra Yadav said.
A long-term plan for movement will be discussed in view of the Parliament session from March 8, and the strategy will be shared in the next meeting of the SKM, he said. Another leader, Darshan Pal, also alleged “repression” by the government.
He said around 32 people have got bail out of 122 arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the violence and vandalism in the national capital during the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day.
Don’t make it a prestige issue: Amarinder to govt
Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday appealed to the Centre not to make revoking its three farm laws a prestige issue and consider so to find a long-term solution to the problem.
He said an early resolution to the issue was critical to the safety of Punjab.
BARNALA: Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan on Sunday appealed to the farmers and farm labourers from Punjab to reach the Delhi borders in large numbers for the February 27 rally against the Centre’s agriculture laws.
Addressing a rally organised by the farmer union in the grain market of Barnala town, the BKU leader said the ongoing farmers’ agitation is not just against the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre but also the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The agitation came back on track after the Red Fort incident on January 26, in which the Centre in connivance with some people tried to give a communal colour to the farmers’ struggle. We have conveyed the people that it is not a fight of a particular religion but the battle of all citizens of the country. After the Delhi incident, the people of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh raised questions over the movement and distanced themselves from the protest. But we managed the situation and saved the struggle from communal forces,” said Ugrahan.
Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) Balbir Singh Rajewal said, “The Delhi Police have registered several cases against farmers. There is no need to appear before the police if they send you notices. Residents should oppose the police if they conduct raids in villages.”
Ruldu Singh Mansa, a leader of the Punjab Kissan Union, which is part of the SKM said the people of Punjab should boycott the BJP workers in the state.
“We will not make any compromise against the farmers interests. The struggle will be fought until the repeal of three laws,” he added.
During the rally that got a massive response, appeals were also made to reach Delhi on February 23 to mark the birth anniversary of Pagri Sambhal Jatta movement leader and Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s uncle Ajit Singh as well as on the Women’s Day on March 8.
People from all walks of life, including intellectuals, artists, unemployed youths and government employees joined hands with the farmers and labourers during the rally.