The standoff between agitating farmers and central government continues. For nearly seven months, the farmers have been agitating against the farm laws at various borders of Delhi. Meanwhile, on Tuesday a team of ad-hoc Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) asked chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar to take initiative for resumption of dialogue between Union minister and farmer leaders. This development comes within two days of Rakesh Tikait giving a call to intensify and bolster the farmers’ movement.
The delegation of elected and nominated members of the body (HSGMC) is headed by HSGMC president Baljit Singh Daduwal. It urged Khattar to make sincere efforts to resolve the issue.
While referring to response by the CM, Daduwal said, “The Haryana CM has assured us to take a sympathetic view of our request. He has said that issue of farming as well farmers are very close to his heart and he is always worried about them.”
Also See: Overview of the Farmers’ unions in the protests
Speaking to a national daily, Daduwal said, “No doubt, we are a religious body. But before that, we are all farmers and one of our members of executive is also part of agitation and is camping at Tikri. I too had been to Tikri and spent time there. I attended the bhogs of Akhand Path on June 7. I have seen the conditions in which farmers have been living. Hence, we took up this issue in our committee and passed the resolution to approach the CM.”
Daduwal further added, “We have a BJP government in the Centre as well as the state. Farmers are camping in Haryana only; hence Khattar would have been the best person to get the dialogue resumed.”
Also See: An overview of farmers’ protests- role of Charan Singh
Announcement of Kranti Diwas by SKM
Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has taken a decision to observe ‘Hool Kranti Diwas’ on June 30 on all the border protest sites around Delhi. Farmers have claimed that their protest is being supported by villagers and khaps in local areas.
The SKM said that on June 30, members of tribal areas will be invited to the dharna sites.
SKM said in a statement, “We have extended our full support to the tribals of village Selagar situated on the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts. Those who are fighting against the government’s decision to set up CRPF camp in the area. This land is being taken without any referral/decision of the Gram Sabha.”
It further added, “Also condemn the police firing on tribals who protested on May 17 in which three tribals died on the spot, one injured pregnant individual died later, and 18 others were injured and 10 are still missing.”
SKM has also decided to continue its peaceful protest against the leaders belonging to BJP & Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) in Haryana.
Also Read: Three Ms of ongoing farmers’ movement- Mewat, Meo & Mahapanchayat- their Social & historical impacts
Call of Tikait
On Monday, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait rallied fellow farmers against the government. He asked them to “get ready with tractors” as he issued an ultimatum to the central government over the contentious farm-laws. Tikait posted from his official handle on Twitter, “This government is not going to agree. It needs treatment. Get ready with your tractors, we will have to intensify the movement to save our lands.” A day ago, the farmer leader had said that the centre should get over its ‘misconception’ that the farmers would go back from their protests because they would not.
Rakesh Tikait asked the farmers to unify under one cause. He said, “Either the farmers and the public will remain or this government. The voices of farmers cannot be subdued with false cases.”
