Amid rift with Morcha, KMSC holds ‘maha rally’
Union leaders raise voice against arrest of farmers on January 26 in Delhi and NIA notices to people who supported the stir
TARN TARAN: Two days after gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana addressed a gathering at Mehraj village in Bathinda district, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) that he aligns with also held a ‘maha rally’ at the grain market in Tarn Taran on Thursday. The KMSC rally is being seen as a “show of strength” amid organisation’s differences with farmer unions’ umbrella body Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
While addressing the gathering, leaders of the organisation, besides seeking repeal of the three farm laws, raised their voice against the arrest of hundreds of farmers on January 26 at Delhi and NIA notices to people who supported the stir. The KMSC is the largest farmer body in Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts.
KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “The flood of the people at the rally proves that farmers are aware of the unholy nexus between Modi government and corporate companies and how the new laws can destroy the lives of peasants and the labourers.”
Amid sloganeering against the central government, resolutions were passed against the policies of the government. Farmers who had died at protest sites and the martyrs of Nankana Sahib massacre were also remembered on the occasion.
After the violence during the Republic Day tractor parade in Delhi, the KMSC, which is taking part in the stir independently since day one against Centre’s three farm laws, faced wrath of the farmer unions’ umbrella body Samyukt Kisan Morcha leaders for astraying from agreed rally route. Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal had termed actorturned-activist Deep Sidhu, KMSC president Satnam Singh Pannu and general secretary Pandher as Punjab’s “biggest traitors”.
During his speech at Mehraj rally, Sidhana had cautioned the leadership of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the protest against the three farm laws, for accepting anything less than the repeal of the contentious laws. Sidhana is wanted by the Delhi Police in the Republic Day violence case.