In a clear sign of baahubali ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, representatives of over two dozen farmers’ unions called a meeting with all political parties except the BJP, making it abundantly clear that agricultural legislation is the main agenda for the upcoming elections. Will happen. .
The leaders of the United Kisan Morcha had virtually summoned representatives of all political parties to the People’s Convention Center in Chandigarh to discuss the controversial agricultural laws and their stand on it.
Top leaders of all political organizations turned to the Centre. From Navjot Singh Sidhu to the Akali Dal leadership, everyone was present. The newly-appointed Congress chief, who had earlier rubbed his nose on the wrong side with his ‘thirst ko kuan pe aane aayega’ remark on interaction with farmers, was the first to meet the farmer leaders. He waited for an hour before being called.
Some farmer leaders also objected to Sidhu coming to the venue under heavy police protection. Senior leaders like Shiromani Akali Dal (United) chief Sukhdev Singh also came to meet the leaders in the morning and were asked to wait till the post-lunch session.
With popular sentiment in favor of the farmers, all major political parties were wary of taking any opposite view on the controversial agricultural laws. The SAD led by Sukhbir Badal was also not ready to oppose the farmers. In fact, after some of their programs were disrupted, the party had put its ‘Gal Punjab Di’ campaign on hold and decided to talk to farmer leaders. “The sentiments are overwhelming in favor of the farmers’ movement. That’s why every party wants it to be in favor of farmers,” remarked a protesting farmer leader.
In the all-party meeting, the SKM is said to have asked all political parties to avoid campaigning or rallies before the announcement of election dates as it had the potential to divert attention from the agrarian movement. A farmer leader remarked, “It will also divide the farming community along party lines and hence we want it to be put on hold for now as our movement has reached a crucial stage.”
In the meeting, the farmer leaders questioned the delegation of various parties as to what pro-farmer measures they had envisioned. “The inquiries went beyond just agricultural laws. The farmer leaders discussed many other farmer related issues,” a party leader who attended the meeting revealed.
While farmer leaders have tried to maintain that the movement was apolitical, statements from some of its constituent leaders have made interesting propositions. For example, Gurnam Singh Charuni, an important farmer leader, has publicly asked farmers to contest elections. One leader remarked, “No matter how strong the denial, there is always a chance that the movement will get a political color at some point.”
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