Punjab: Farmers’ meeting inconclusive, next round of meeting on January 18

Punjab: Talks to forge unity by major farmer unions remained inconclusive on Monday. Representatives of three major farmer forums – Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), SKM (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) – deliberated for over two-and-a-half hours during a meeting held at Patran in Patiala district. They agreed to meet again on January 18 to finalise a common minimum programme. The meeting was attended by prominent farmer leaders like Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Darshan Pal and Kaka Singh Kotra. The discussions were held in the backdrop of growing support for farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for 49 days demanding a legal guarantee of MSP for crops. Addressing the media after the meeting, SKM leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said, “The meeting was held in a positive atmosphere.

We firmly believe that unity among all farmer unions is important to win this battle. Once we are united, public support will come. Despite Ugrahan’s assurances, speculations were rife after Rajewal walked out midway through the discussions. However, other leaders, including Raminder Patiala and Abhimanyu Kohar, dismissed rumours of differences, attributing personal commitments to Rajewal’s early departure. Kotra of SKM (non-political) said the forum’s representatives would consult their respective unions to build a consensus before the next meeting. “Our aim is to replicate the success of the 2020-21 farm movement through a united front,” he said. The unions plan to finalise an agenda on key demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP, implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations and loan waivers. Meanwhile, farmer unions burnt copies of the draft national policy framework on agricultural marketing across Punjab.