Faces at forefront of Punjab’s farmer stir
AMRITSAR/SANGRUR: The passage of the three agriculture bills in the Lok Sabha this week has galvanised farmers in Congress-ruled Punjab amid fears that the move will lead to deregulation of the farm sector and end the minimum support price (MSP) system. While the Centre has tried to allay apprehensions, farmer outfits have taken to the streets in Punjab. A calendar for a long-drawn protest has been drawn. Hindustan Times tracks down the agitators on the ground leading the fight.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan)
POLITICAL BACKING: The Left-leaning outfit was formed in 2002.
LEADER: Its president Joginder Singh Ugrahan, 72, is a retired teacher.
SUPPORT BASE: Malwa and two districts of Majha, namely Amritsar and Gurdaspur.
ACTION PLAN: BKU Ugrahan is opposing the bills. Members started a five-day protest at
Badal village and Patiala on September 15. They have extended the stir till September 25.
Bharti Kissan Union Ekta (Dakaunda)
POLITICAL BACKING: The Left-leaning outfit has been active since 2007.
LEADER: Jagmohan Singh Patiala, 64, is the general secretary. A postgraduate, he was
jailed at the age of 16 during the Moga agitation in the ’70s.
SUPPORT BASE: Malwa districts of Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala and Bathinda.
ACTION PLAN: It is one of the 10 farmer unions that held a protest in 5 Punjab districts on September 14. Besides the Punjab bandh on September 25, its leader will be taking part in the September 19 meet.
Krantikari Kisan Union Punjab
POLITICAL BACKING: The outfit has a Leftist approach and has been working with farmers since 2016.
LEADER: Dr Darshan Pal, 68, an anesthesiologist who left his job in 2003, heads the union.
SUPPORT BASE: Patiala, Ferozepur, Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka and Faridkot districts.
ACTION PLAN: Among the 10 farmer unions opposing the three ordinances, it burnt effigies of the Centre. It will follow decisions taken at Saturday’s meeting in Ludhiana.
Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee
POLITICAL BACKING: Largest farmers’ group in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts with a neutral leaning.
LEADER: Satnam Singh Pannu, 60, is president. He has remained a Left-leaning student activist. He belongs to Piddi village of Tarn Taran district.
SUPPORT BASE: Founded in 2000 at Naushehra Pannuan in Tarn Taran district, the organisation has expanded its base to
Ferozepur district. Though it has split, Pannu leads the largest faction. The organisation has influence in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts.
Jamhuri Kisan Sabha
POLITICAL BACKING: Its leader Rattan Singh Randhawa is the state vice-president of Jamhuri Kisan Sabha, a farmer wing of the Mangat Ram Paslaled Revolutionary Marxist Party of India (RMPI) that was founded in 2001.
LEADER: Randhawa, 64, is a Leftist leader of Majha. A law graduate and post graduate in political science and sociology, Randhawa has been a Leftist since his student days. He has been a farm activist for 37 years.
SUPPORT BASE: The outfit holds sway in the border districts of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur.
ACTION PLAN: The sabha organised gatherings in the border districts. Randhawa played a key role in protecting the interest of farmers whose land is situated beyond the barbed fence along the international border.