We shall not support farmer organizations contesting elections in Punjab: SKM
In a meeting held at the Singhu Border on the outskirts of Delhi on Jan 15, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has said that it shall not support farmer organizations contesting elections in Punjab. It has also decided to observe Jan 31 as ‘Vishwasghat Divas’ (Betrayal Day) at district collectorates across the country and burn effigies of the Modi Government.
In a meeting held at the Singhu Border on the outskirts of Delhi on January 15, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has said that it shall not support farmer organizations contesting elections in Punjab. The SKM has said that it is an apolitical organization.
SKM has decided to embark on Mission UP and Uttarakhand. Farmer organizations are preparing for a permanent dharna and launching a #NoVoteToBJP campaign.
The leaders of the SKM will camp at Lakhimpur Kheri from January 21 to 23. “We shall go there for 3-4 days and meet the victims of the incident. We shall also meet the farmers who are in prison,” said farmer leader Rakesh Tikait.
SKM will also support the Bharat Bandh on February 23-24 along with the labour organizations.
The January 15 deadline given by the Narendra Modi Government when it asked the farmers to end their movement, said SKM, is now over. The Government has not lived up to its promises and betrayed the farmers, feels SKM. No action has been taken yet on withdrawing the Delhi cases. No state other than Haryana has taken any action as yet.
SKM has, therefore, decided to observe January 31 as ‘Vishwasghat Divas’ (Betrayal Day) at district collectorates across the country and burn effigies of the Modi Government.
“Till now, the Centre has neither formed a committee on MSP (Minimum Support Price) nor approached us on it. The Government hasn't removed the MoS (Minister of State) whose son is involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. If the Government doesn't respond to our demands, then we'll celebrate 'Virodh Diwas' on Jan 31,” said Yudhvir Singh of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU).
On the occasion of Gurpurab on November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a startling announcement that the three central farm laws, which the farmers had been protesting for over a year, would be repealed. Besides, he also announced that a committee would be formed to look into Minimum Support Price (MSP), an important demand made by the farmer organizations.
On November 29, the Parliament passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, to repeal the three contentious farm laws.
