Farmers blasts govt's attempt to 'divide' unions, say way forward decision on Dec 4
Darpan News Desk IANS, 01 Dec, 2021 12:28 PM
New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) Stating that the BJP government should stop attempting to divide farmers even at this stage - two days after the three farm laws were repealed in the Parliament, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Wednesday on condemned the government's statement that it does not have data about farmers' death.
"The SKM condemns the response of the government of India in the Parliament saying that it has no information about deaths in the farmers' movement and therefore, the question of financial assistance does not arise! SKM reiterates its demand for compensation and rehabilitation of the kin of more than 689 martyrs in the ongoing agitation," the SKM - which has spearheaded the farmers' agitation for over a year - said in a statement.
It also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not re-initiating formal dialogue and not responding formally to the letter sent by the SKM reminding the government about the pending demands. "Farm unions stand united in their demands to the Government and SKM is awaiting formal communication with all required details from the Government," it said.
The SKM statement came in wake of the fact that there were informal attempts to reach out to the farmers on Tuesday by the government asking for five names to be included in a Committee purportedly for discussing farm related issues, including the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Asserting that the farmers' unions are all united, the SKM - a consortium of 40-odd organisations - said, morchas/campsites around Delhi borders will continue with more tractor-trolleys reaching the protest sites and the struggle will continue.
"More farmers are coming so that everyone can go back together victorious - SKM appeals to farmers and media not to believe falsehoods being spread about protests winding down - SKM will hold its meeting on December 4 as announced earlier," the statement said.
There is no meeting that has happened between Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and farm union leaders of that state, the SKM claimed. "In the Haryana SKM meeting, it was reiterated that the agitation will continue until the pending demands are met by the government, and until formal communication is received regarding the same. Haryana farmers' organisations will join the SKM meeting on December 4 like other constituents and a collective stock-taking will take place on that day."
Meanwhile, the All India Kisan Sabha, a component of SKM, said: "The BJP Government has been incessantly peddling lies to cover up for their loss of face, having suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the united Kisan movement. Narendra Modi is graceless in defeat and insincere in the apology tendered, he has no remorse for the death of over 700 farmers and immense hardship farmers have had to undergo."
The Punjab Chief Minister reminded Khattar and his deputy Dushyant Chautala that the farmers who were protesting against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) meeting in Karnal when the police baton charged them belonged to Haryana and not Punjab.
A video had gone viral of the SDM shouting out instructions to policemen to use force to stop the protesting farmers. Khattar had told a press conference that the officer's "choice of words was not correct" but said, "if any action has to be taken (against the officer), it would first have to be assessed by the district administration."
Speaking at a party function in Amritsar city, Sidhu said "if he is allowed to work according to his own policy of hope and faith, he will ensure Congress rule in the state for 20 years".
Of them, 2,35,768 challans were issued to those not wearing a mask, 28,539 to those found violating social distancing norms, 1,415 for consumption of liquor, pan, gutka, etc, 1463 for holding large public gatherings or congregations and 1,460 for spitting, the data showed.
The meeting comes in wake of some "rebel" MLAs seeking time from Sonia Gandhi to press for removal of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, even as state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu is not letting up on attacks against the Chief Minister.
Aimed at better future planning and growth, keeping in tune with climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) is developing the Climate Action Plan to be completed after public consultation in two months' time.
