Khap leaders extend support to agitation

Leaders of several Khaps from Haryana have extended support to the agitating farmers and demanded the union government to initiate talks with the farmer leaders without any delay.

Representatives of several Khap Panchayats of the state held a meeting at Hisar expressed concerns over the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal who is on fast unto death for the past 33 days and warned to hold a national level Khap Mahapanchayat at Muzaffarnagar of Uttar Pradesh on January 9, if the talks between farmers and union government could not be resumed.

The Khap leaders also made it clear that if all the farmers’ organisations get united and fight together, the Khap Panchayats will support them; otherwise the Khaps will not support separate movements.

According to the Khap leaders, they will invite all leaders of Khap Panchayats across the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh at Muzaffarnagar Khap Mahapanchayat. Also during the meeting the Khap leaders formed an 11-member committee to coordinate with the farmer unions as this committee to assist farmer unions to organize any meeting or panchayats of farmers of Haryana.

As per the information representatives from 102 khap panchayats and leaders from the Samyukt Kisan Morcha and farmer unions attended the mahapanchayat even Congress leader and Olympian medalist Bajrang Punia and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha convener Sarwan Singh Pandher also attended the meeting.

As per the reports the Mahapanchayat of Khap leaders was called following mounting pressure from the farmer unions as they were demanding that the Khap panchayats should also join the agitation by ensuring support of farmers of Haryana.