Last Friday, several leaders of the United Kisan Morcha (SKM) — an umbrella organization of several farmers’ unions in Punjab and other states — reached Khanuri to see SKM (non-political) coordinator Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who was on a fast. – Died since November 26.
Among the SKM leaders who met Dallewal were BKU (Tikait) leader Rakesh Tikait, BKU (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal and BKU Dakounda (Dhaner) president Manjit Singh Dhaner. They said that they visited Khanauri on behalf of their respective organizations and not as representatives of SKM.
So far, SKM has distanced itself from the farmers’ dharna led by Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and SKM (Non-Political), which continues in Shambhu and Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border. February 13 this year. While SKM supports their demands – which include minimum support price (MSP) for crops and legal status for farm loan waiver – they have reservations about their “mode of protest”.
However, there seems to be a renewed effort by various agricultural bodies to form a united front for their “common demands” to put more pressure on the Centre.
On December 12, KMM coordinator Sarwan Singh Pandher sent a letter to SKM asking them to “start fresh talks” about their unity. “Even before our Delhi Chalo March started on February 13, even though there were efforts for this unity, we could not get on the same page then,” Pandher said.
Dr Darshan Pal, member of SKM’s National Coordinating Committee and President of Krantikari Kisan Union, told The Indian Express, “We met some leaders of KMM in Patiala on November 17 where it was decided that both the protesting unions would write to SKM and we can start discussions. On the issue of unity. So if they have written to us formally, it is a good gesture and SKM will discuss it soon. However, even in February, SKM’s six-member unity committee made several attempts to form a united front (front).
Pal said, “Keeping in view the health condition of Dallewal ji, we will seek immediate time to take up the issues of the agitating farmer’s union with the Governor of Punjab.”
Last week, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of BKU (Ugran) – Punjab’s largest farm union and a key SKM constituent – said, “Delhi Chalo is not the answer to every struggle… We are not questioning their struggle but seeking MSP. Legal guarantee is now It is a bigger fight than our protest against the 3 repealed agricultural laws… so a united front of all farmers’ unions in the country can stand up against it collectively.”
BKU (Ugran) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokriklan told The Indian Express: “We strongly condemn the use of force by the Haryana administration against the protesting farmers in the Shambhu border. Dallewal’s life is also at risk because the central government is not understanding the demands of the farmers. The government should talk to them.”
Kokrikalan also said, “Though we have a common demand, we have not thought about participating in the sit-in at Khanauri and Shambhu checkpoints. It is not just a few farm unions in Punjab because demands like MSP law, loan waiver and implementation of Swaminathan Commission report need to be raised collectively by all farm unions.
Butasinh Burjgil, president of BKU (Dakunda), another member of SKM, said, “We have not decided to participate in the movement at the border, and they have not directly asked.”
Sources said that although SKM’s National Coordination Committee had a meeting on Friday evening to discuss Dallewal’s hunger strike, they could not reach an agreement on joining the ongoing movement.
SKM had led a farmers’ agitation for more than a year on Delhi’s borders in 2020-21 against three central agriculture laws that forced the Center to scrap them.
During his visit to Khanauri to meet Dallewal, Punjabi singer-actor Babbu Mann, in his speech, said it was time for other peasant leaders to “drop their egos and join the new movement”.
Dallewal himself has repeatedly appealed that more and more people should be connected to strengthen it.
Kokrikalan said, “There are big challenges ahead of us apart from MSP. Take for example the agricultural market policy introduced by the central government in the recent budget through which they want to implement the three agricultural laws through the back door. So we have to be aware of new challenges as well.”
Sources said Dallewal is also in favor of a united struggle with SKM on their common demands, but he has objections to some of the farmer leaders being re-inducted after contesting the 2022 Punjab assembly elections. “Our talks in the coming days may discuss all these points but the urgent issue now is to take care of Dallewal ji’s health and put pressure on the state and central governments to step up,” Pal said.
The hunger strike of the 70-year-old cancer sufferer Dallewal entered the 21st day on Monday.
Pandher was part of the 2020-21 Kisan Andolan, but not as a component of SKM. His KMM staged a separate dharna at the Kundali border at that time. Later, he joined hands with Dallewal and launched a joint agitation for the pending demands that the government had allegedly promised in December 2021.
Haryana BKU (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni met Dallewal in Khanauri on Sunday and discussed the issue of agricultural body unity.
Charuni himself was expelled from SKM for forming a political outfit, the United Sangharsh Party, to contest the 2022 elections. In the 2024 Haryana elections, Charuni also contested from Pehowa, though he lost his bail. In March, 2024 he returned to the SKM fold. His meeting with Dallewal was said to be “significant” in farming circles.
The KMM and SKM (Non-Political) on Saturday called off their walk to Delhi – their third attempt in 10 days – after Haryana police again fired teargas and water cannon at Shambhu, injuring at least 17 people. .
On Monday, SKM leader Rakesh Tikait also expressed concern over Dallewal’s health, calling on farmers’ bodies to unite in a common fight, saying “Batoge to Lutoge”.
Speaking to reporters in Karnal, Tikait said, ‘Batoge to Lutoge, Sabko Ikhte Rahna Padega’, the farmers’ groups should ‘stand united’ for joint movement for their demands.
– With PTI input
Why should you buy our membership?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be confused and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package