Kisan Morcha plans National Convention on August 26th, to mark 9 months' completion of protest
Issues resolved with Gurnam Singh Chaduni, says SKM
Singhu Border (Delhi), August 16, 2021:
To mark the completion of nine months of historic, continuous peaceful protests by lakhs of farmers, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has decided to hold a national convention on August 26th, 2021. This All-India Convention will witness the participation of representatives of hundreds of farmers' organisations which have been part of the ongoing protests locally, regionally and nationally.
Farmers across the country marked the 75th Independence Day of India on Sunday as Kisan Mazdoor Azaadi Sangram Diwas, responding to the call put out by Samyukt Kisan Morcha. Reports are pouring in from different locations about the various ways in which the day was marked with Tiranga Yatras by farmers and workers. Women farmers took a lead in different places in Haryana, Punjab and elsewhere. At the various morchas of the farmers' agitation including Dhansa, Palwal, Ghazipur, Shahjahanpur, Singhu and Tikri, there were special events to mark the day. The Azaadi Sangram Diwas was also marked at different toll plazas which have become pucca morchas of protesting farmers over the past several months. Reports also indicate that Uttar Pradesh police did not allow the tiranga yatras of farmers in some locations to proceed.
Samyukat Kisan Morcha (SKM) said that thousands of vehicles of farmers were taken out in tiranga yatras in different places, spanning hundreds of kilometers. In agricultural fields and chowks of urban centres, the tiranga was held high, with farmers and other 'ordinary citizens' taking a lead, even as they highlighted issues that need addressal for true freedom to be experienced by all citizens, especially by the most marginalised.
To extend their support and solidarity to the protesting farmers on this Independence Day, sleep-out events were organised in different parts of the world by the Indian diaspora. This includes Vancouver, London, San Jose (USA), Seattle, Toronto, Vienna etc. In London, at the well-known Westminster Bridge over River Thames, a huge banner was unfurled that demanded Prime Minister Modi's resignation, stated the SKM.
Four Haryana persons have been expelled fully from SKM for having violated Samyukt Kisan Morcha's stand and norms and they are not allowed to enter any morcha site or onto the stage in any SKM protest site. They include Pradeep Dhankar, Vikal Pachar, Jagbir Ghasola and Dr Shamsher, and this was a decision taken in the last SKM meeting.
Meanwhile, Gurnam Singh Chaduni of BKU Chaduni retracted his statement about entering elections, and will not be forming any political party. A few other pending issues were also resolved in a dialogue between SKM representatives and Chaduni, said the SKM in its statement.
An MLA of JJP in Haryana, Jogi Ram Sihag, faced local black flag protests yesterday when he went into villages in Hisar. After escaping from one village (Sirsaud), the MLA met with a similar situation in a second village (Bichpadi) where he had to face the local farmers' ire.
According to the SKM, Modi Government's shifting goalposts were apparent yet again yesterday, in the PM's Independence Day Speech. Camouflaging the utter failure of the government to protect farmers' interests, and its outright anti-farmer moves, the PM's emphasis made about small and marginal farmers, did not fool anybody. Meanwhile, the announcement of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of revival and development of agricultural market committees reinforces the stand of protesting farmers, and emphasises the need for regulated markets.
On 17th of August, to mark the completion of 36 years of Narmada Bachao Andolan, "Narmada Kisan Mazdoor Jan Sansad '' was organised in Badwani. Several SKM leaders are expected to take part in this event which will see the participation of thousands of farmers from various places in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra in addition to villagers from numerous villages of Narmada valley.
To strengthen the ongoing protests, more farmers from distant locations are joining the protest sites. Hundreds more farmers from Tamil Nadu reached Singhu Border yesterday. A contingent of farmers from Karnataka addressed the gathering at Ghazipur Border on Monday.