Ahead of the proposed meeting between the Centre and farmer unions on May 4 in Chandigarh, leaders of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have written to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan demanding that representatives of the Punjab government should not be allowed to participate in the discussions.
In a letter sent to Chouhan and the Ministry of Agriculture on Sunday, the farmer groups reiterated their commitment to resolving farmers’ issues through dialogue.
However, they expressed deep resentment over the events that followed the last meeting held on March 19 in Chandigarh, accusing the Punjab government of betraying their trust.
“The meeting on March 19 had ended in a cordial atmosphere, but soon after, the Punjab government deceitfully arrested several farmer leaders and violently crushed the farmer protests at Shambhu and Datasinghwala-Khanauri borders,” the letter stated. The unions alleged that the Punjab government’s actions insulted the dignity of farmers nationwide and fuelled widespread anger among the farming community.
The letter further emphasized that since the March 19 talks were held following a written invitation from the Centre, the central government also bore responsibility for ensuring the safety and respect of the farmer leaders during the negotiation process.
“The Punjab government has betrayed the farmers by using police force at Shambhu and Khanauri borders when the senior leaders where attending a meeting Chandigarh, we don’t think that the Punjab government representatives deserves to attend this meeting anymore”’ farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal had said.
“We are always ready for talks with the Centre but if they will invite Punjab government representatives to the meeting we will have to boycott this meeting”, he added.
In view of the past events, the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have firmly urged the Centre not to include Punjab government representatives in the upcoming meeting.
“If representatives of the Punjab government attend the May 4 meeting, then, respecting the sentiments of the farmers across the country, we will be compelled not to participate in the proposed discussions,” the farmer bodies warned.
