Farmers’ stir: KMM to participate in unity meeting tomorrow, SKM (non-political) to skip

However, SKM (non-political) leaders, including Abhimanyu Kohar, announced successful Bathinda connected Tuesday greeting that they would not articulation the meeting. “The unity gathering was called connected January 24 without consulting us. We had already planned mahapanchayats astatine Rattanpura, Khanauri, and Shambhu connected February 11, 12, and 13, respectively. Since we are engaged successful these programmes, we cannot nonstop immoderate delegation,” helium said.

Kohar added that they stay unfastened to different unity talks to beryllium held successful aboriginal and welcomed suggestions via email oregon successful idiosyncratic astatine the Khanauri borderline earlier their scheduled gathering with cardinal authorities representatives successful Chandigarh connected February 14.

Pandher had earlier claimed to talk connected behalf of some forums. While the KMM dominates the Shambhu protestation site, SKM (non-political) has a stronger beingness astatine Khanauri, portion some groups are contiguous astatine Rattanpura successful Rajasthan.

Sukhjit Singh Hardojhande, different SKM (non-political) leader, said, “We volition beryllium occupied with the Kisan Mahapanchayat successful Khanauri connected Wednesday, making it intolerable to be the Chandigarh meeting.”

Meanwhile, a caller request — opposing the National Framework Policy connected Agricultural Marketing — has besides created a rift. Pandher indicated KMM’s willingness to see adding this contented to their database of 12 existing demands for cultivation reforms. He stated that his delegation volition sermon this request astatine Wednesday’s unity meeting.

Kohar maintained that portion SKM (non-political) opposes the policy — having protested against it and burned its copies connected January 13 — their superior absorption remains connected the 12 halfway demands, including a ineligible warrant for MSP. “We whitethorn instrumentality up this contented later,” helium added.

Sources suggest that the KMM is attempting to impact immoderate SKM leaders successful the February 14 gathering with Union ministers, but SKM (non-political) has declined. “If immoderate national wants to stock suggestions, they tin bash truthful earlier the February 14 meeting,” SKM leaders stated.

Despite a shared goal, the emerging differences implicit strategy and information successful cardinal discussions bespeak that cracks wrong the husbandman unions are widening. The protestation astatine Khanauri and Shambhu borders volition implicit 1 twelvemonth connected Thursday, and the forum leaders volition person a gathering connected Friday with a delegation of Union ministers and authorities authorities representatives astatine the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration successful Sector 26, Chandigarh.

The Centre had extended an invitation for talks connected January 19 aft farmers’ person Jagjit Singh Dallewal started taking aesculapian assistance done IV fluids. The talks volition beryllium resuming aft a year.

In February 2024, 5 rounds of talks took spot with a sheet of 3 Union ministers successful the beingness of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his different furniture colleagues. The past circular was held connected February 18 past year.