Jalandhar: Senior Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader and Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait on Friday (December 13) urged all farmer unions to come together and said that the unions under the SKM banner which came back from Delhi after getting the three farm laws repealed in 2021 should reunite and chalk a strategy to fight for the legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP).
Tikait was at the Khanauri border to enquire about SKM (nonpolitical) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s failing health following his fast unto death to press the demand for an MSP law.
“I do not think that Dallewal will take back his fast unto death. Till the Modi government does not accept the demand for MSP law, the protest will continue. We all are concerned about his health. It is high time that farmers come together under one platform and only then can we lead a big fight with the government,” said Tikait.
Dallewal began his fast unto death on November 26, 2024 with his protest entering the 19th day.
Responding to media queries about Dallewal’s deteriorating health and the delay by SKM leaders in supporting the Delhi Chalo morcha, Tikait said that a government which has been formed on ‘Qatals’ (murders) cannot be moved by sacrifices.
“The Sikh community is replete with examples of sacrifices and they are not afraid of laying down their lives for just causes”, said Tikait, adding that the Narendra Modi-led BJP government should find a solution and should at least begin talks with farmers.
Tikait’s visit is likely to boost the 10-month-old Delhi Chalo march, which started on February 13, 2024. Back in January 2021, during the farmers’ protest seeking the repeal of the three farm laws, Tikait’s tears had breathed in new life into the movement.
However, it is yet to be seen that how various farmer unions would come together, as Tikait pointed out.
“In the past three years, many new farmer unions have come up, some formed by the central government too. So, all the unions need to come along to press for the demand of MSP law,” he said.
Tikait was accompanied by senior SKM leaders Harinder Singh Lakhowal, the general secretary of BKU Lakhowal, Manjit Singh Dhaner, president BKU Dakaunda, Sukh Gill Moga, Jangvir Singh Chauhan, Kuldeep Singh Bajidpur and others.
‘Centre dividing farmers & unions’
When asked when the farmer unions will come together, the Tikait said that it is the central government’s policy to divide farmers and break their unions.
“The Centre is succeeding in its policy of dividing the farmers. We formed a five-member committee four months ago, which is working to bring all farmer unions together. At the same time, farmer unions from Punjab and Haryana should also refrain from making baseless allegations which create a wedge between them”, said Tikait.
Senior SKM leader Rakesh Tikait at Khanauri along with other farmer leaders on Friday (December 13, 2024) Photo: By special arrangement
Tikait added that it is the Punjab government’s responsibility to break Dallewal’s fast unto death.
“If something happened to Dallewal, the central government will not take responsibility. They will say that the incident took place in Punjab, hence the onus does not lie with them. The Centre has already broken the farmer unions and stopped them by barricading the highway going to Delhi at Shambhu border. It is important that the protest takes place in Delhi, so that the central government could be held responsible,” added Tikait.
Reminding the farmers that it took 13 months to get the three farm laws repealed, Tikait cautioned the unions that they should not take the Modi government lightly.
“This time Delhi needs to be gheraoed not from the borders but from KMP highway with tractors. The Modi government did not budge from its stand earlier when around 4 lakh tractors had reached Delhi, do you think they will respond to a group of farmers?” he questioned the media.
SKM and SKM (nonpolitical) divided over participation in politics
While the SKM leaders have been leading separate symbolic protests across country on the demand for MSP law, implementation of Swaminathan Commission report and justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri case, they have not been supporting the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) that is leading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest at Shambhu, Khanauri and Rattanpura borders.
Since February this year, the KMM, led by SKM non-political leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president of BKU (Sidhupur) and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) president Sarwan Singh Pandher has been camping at the Shambhu border dividing Punjab and Haryana. Recently the KMM completed 300 days of Delhi Chalo morcha.
Earlier, SKM leaders had parted ways after many of its senior leaders decided to contest the 2022 Punjab Assembly Elections, leading to a major rift. While SKM later took back all the leaders who joined politics, Dallewal who was strongly opposed to this move announced his new faction – SKM (nonpolitical) in July 2022.
Later, when the call for another protest for MSP law was given, SKM did not come along, paving the way for the formation of KMM.
Krantikati Kisan Union, Bajrang Poonia come in support of Dallewal
Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal, who could not reach Khanauri border, released a video message supporting the Shambhu morcha and said that farmers from his union were already visiting Dallewal ever since he started his indefinite protest.
“Due to some difference of opinion, some farmer unions were not on the same page with each other but given the current scenario, we all should come together for the sake of humanity, democracy, and farmers’ unity. Punjab and Haryana farmer unions should go and talk to Dallewal”, he said.
Senior SKM leader Rakesh Tikait at Khanauri border to meet SKM (non political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal along with other farmer leaders on Friday (December 13, 2024). Photo: By special arrangement
Wrestler and Olympian Bajrang Punia too declared support for Delhi Chalo morcha. Punia made an emotional appeal to the public urging them to support the farmers in their protest for MSP law in every possible way.
“I had been to the Shambhu border earlier too. My family members have also been supporting the protest from day one. As a farmer’s son and being a farmer myself, I feel sad at the plight of farmers. The mainstream media is not even covering the protest. How would people come to know about the reality on the ground,” Poonia had told The Wire before his visit to the Shambhu border.
“Some information is still being shared, by courtesy of social media. I have invited people to come along for the sake of farmers keeping their personal and political differences aside,” said Poonia.
Meanwhile, Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab assembly, also posted on X a video of farmers’ protest from London, United Kingdom.
“Westminster in London is flooded with tractors as farmers peacefully protest, and neither the government nor Scotland Yard uses force – just respect for democratic rights. In stark contrast, the BJP led government unleashed tear gas, barricades, water cannons, and police brutality against protesting farmers, treating them like threats instead of citizens. Why is the BJP so afraid of farmers demanding their rights? Democracy thrives on dissent, not suppression,” wrote Bajwa.
SGPC chief expresses concern over Dallewal’s failing health
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami too has expressed concern over the failing health of Dallewal and said that center and state governments should give up their adamant attitude and accept the legitimate demands of farmers.
“A law to guarantee MSP on all crops is a rightful and legitimate demand of the farmers and if the central government wants farmers to give up the path of struggle and go to their homes, then the law should be passed in the parliament without any delay,” said Dhami.
On December 11, Dallewal had also written an emotional letter to Prime Minister Modi, bearing his thumb impression with blood and saying that it was his first and last letter.
“In 2011, as Chief Minister of Gujarat and chairman of Consumer Affairs Committee, you (PM Modi) had written a letter to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assuring all our 13 demands including legal guarantee on MSP. You have two choices to make: either fulfill the promises made to us in 2011 and make MSP law or be prepared to accept my sacrifice,” Dallewal had written in the letter to Modi.
Dallewal also wrote that in case of any police action at Shambhu, Khanauri and Rattanpura morcha, the Prime Minister will be fully responsible.
On Saturday (December 14), farmers’ unions called off their march to Delhi after the Haryana police once again deployed water cannons and tear gas on agitating farmers from Punjab at the Shambhu border crossing into Haryana.
