Samyukta Kisan Morcha, after an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of veteran Punjab leader Balbir Singh Rajewal, released a Press Statement, today, condemning the violence and storming of Red Fort on Republic Day during the Kisan Parade. It blamed Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, anti-social elements like Deep Sidhu and others for hatching a deep rooted conspiracy to malign and harm the peaceful and strong farmers’ struggle. SKM claimed that the incidents on Republic Day had “exposed the anti-farmer forces” and vowed to continue a peaceful protest.
The Press Statement is published here in full:
Most of the farmer organizations who are part of the ongoing farmers’ agitation today held an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of Shri Balbir Singh Rajewal. Sincere appreciation was conveyed to the struggling farmers for extending an unprecedented response to the Kisan Republic Day Parade.
The concerned organisations discussed the violent incidents in New Delhi and concluded that Union Govt. has been severely shaken by this peasant agitation. Therefore, a dirty conspiracy was hatched with Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and others against the peaceful struggle of other farmer organizations, who had set up their own separate protest site after 15 days of beginning of this Farmers’ agitation. They were not part of the organisations which jointly undertook the struggle.
When the farmer organizations declared a programme of Kisan Parade on 26 January, anti-social elements like Deep Sidhu and others, along with the said farmer organization attempted to torpedo the farmers’ agitation. Under this conspiracy, the said Kisan organisation and other persons announced that they would march on Ring Road and unfurl a flag on the Red Fort. As a corollary of conspiracy, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee started marching on the Ring Road, two hours before the scheduled march of the struggling organisations. It was a deep rooted conspiracy to knock down the peaceful and strong farmers’ struggle.
All the constituents of Samyukt Kisan Morcha strongly condemned this incident. The struggling organisations appealed to the farmers to stay on the protest venues and continue a peaceful struggle. The farmers’ organisations resolved to continue this agitation and harshly condemned the government and its administration, the said farmers’ organisation and anti-social elements, who tried to damage the peaceful farmers struggle. The organisations resolved not to allow the government and other forces inimical to the peaceful movement to break this struggle. Yesterday’s events exposed and isolated the anti-farmer forces clearly. An emergency meeting of 32 organizations is called on 27 January to chalk out the future programme. All the farmers’ leaders were present in the meeting along with Shri Balbir Singh Rajewal and Shri Jagjeet Singh Dallewal.
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Samyukta Kisan Morcha Press Note
The conspiracy to defame a peaceful movement of last 7 months, is now exposed in front of the public. Along with some individuals and organizations, like Deep Sidhu and Kisan Majdoor Sangarsh Committee led by S Satnam Singh Pannu, the government made this movement violent. We clarify again that we dissociate ourselves from the violent actions which took place at Red Fort and other parts of Delhi.
What was projected and witnessed by the public was orchestrated. The parade of the farmers was predominantly peaceful and on the agreed upon route. We strongly condemn the insult of national symbols, but the farmers’ movement cannot be painted as ‘violent’ as violence was done by a few anti-social elements, who are not associated with us. Farmers on all borders reached to their original place by completing their respective parades in a peaceful way by yesterday itself.
We strongly condemn the police brutality unleashed on protesters. The attempts made by government to kill this movement by using police and other agencies is exposed. We demand immediate release of all the peaceful protesters who were arrested yesterday. We also condemn the attempts of police to damage the tractors and other vehicles in the Parade and seizure of the same.
We also demand strict action against those who have undignified and desecrated national symbols. Farmers are the biggest nationalists and they are protector of good image of nation.
Taking moral responsibility for some regrettable events yesterday, SKM announced the postponement of the Parliament March that was scheduled for February 1st. Further, on January 30th, on Gandhiji’s martyrdom day, to emphasize on peace and non-violence, there will be a one day fast all over the country.
SKM appealed to the public to take up social boycott of elements like Deep Sidhu.
Not only in Delhi, Kisan Republic Parade proposed by the Farmers organisations was done in many states. In Bihar, farmers celebrated Republic Day at many places including Patna. In Madhya Pradesh, the farmers celebrated this glorious day with full zeal. NAPM’s workers joined the farmer parade in Delhi on 26th January. A huge rally was organised in Azad Maidan of Mumbai. In Bangalore, thousands of farmers participated in Kisan Parade and it was completely peaceful. Farmers of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Hyderabad, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh participated in the farmers Republic Parade.
Other plans and activities will be announced in the coming days.
We want to clarify that our movement will remain peaceful. The farmers are confident and peacefully showing their disagreement with this govt. We are overwhelmed to see the love of the citizens of Delhi in the parade yesterday.
*Dr. Darshan Pal*
Samyukta Kisan Morcha