Leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Thursday paid tribute to former Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh, who died due to Covid19 the same day.

The farmer-leaders said that Ajit Singh had always kept farmers in the forefront.

The leaders gave a joint statement issued from the Singhu border in Sonepat district. The statement mentioned that carrying forward the legacy of his father and former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, Ajit Singh supported the farmers’ movement against the three controversial farm-laws.

Also See: An overview of farmers’ protests- role of Charan Singh

As a measure of homage to the prominent leader of RLD party, Former Chief Minister of Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda said, “Ajit Singh was a grassroots leader who always espoused the cause of farmers and the working class.”

Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana, Dushyant Chautala in a condolence message said that Ajit Singh had always worked for the upliftment of farmers and workers, and followed the ideology of secularism.

Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests

In a parallel development, the SKM leaders condemned the suspension of social media accounts of those covering the farmers’ movement.

The SKM leaders, including Abhimanyu Kohar, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Dr Darshan Pal, Gurnam Singh Charuni and Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that, “We oppose the Centre’s attack on independent journalists and social workers. Their social media accounts should be re-activated immediately.”

Ajit Singh at Bamnauli Kisan mahapanchayat on February 27

Ajit Singh as Rashtriya Lok Dal chief, party vice-president Jayant Chaudhary and Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on February 27 had stressed on farmers’ unity, which “is the only weapon to vanquish a stubborn BJP government at the Centre for repealing the three black agriculture-laws.”

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While addressing a Kisan Mahapanchayat in Baghpat’s Bamnauli village, Ajit Singh had said, “Time has come when we all should unite among ourselves and uproot the BJP government. BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are dream merchants who promised moon to people, especially the youth. Modi is the PM of a handful of capitalists and mill owners.”