Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 19
Through thick and thin, the 32 kisan unions that came together exactly a year ago on this day have remained united in their fight against the three farm laws enacted by the Centre last year.
Global attention
Our biggest achievement is that we have managed to take the debate of corporatisation of agriculture and its financial implications on farmers to an international level. The way farmers across the country are now gearing up to continue the fight gives us immense satisfaction, even as we keep away from politics. Balbir Singh Rajewal, BKU (Rajewal)
The journey of this unity has passed various tests and is now being hailed as an example of civil rights movement across the globe. As the farm unions celebrated the completion of one year of a united fight against the Centre, they are now looking at taking their movement across India by forming state-level units of Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
“These state-level units will take up all state-specific, region-specific and national issues concerning farmers. These issues will then be brought in public domain for discussion and action will be planned accordingly. We are looking at having state units of SKM at Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra soon,” said Dr Darshan Pal of Krantikari Kisan Union, who played a pivotal role in threading 32 farmer unions of Punjab on a common platform to resist implementation of the three farm laws.
He says their struggle is one to protect the federal structure of the country, as the three farm laws have been enacted by the Centre by usurping powers of the states.
Last year, initially the farm unions in Punjab had formed two groups. It was at the instance of Dr Darshan Pal, Balbir Singh Rajewal and Jagmohan Singh Patiala that they decided to bury their decades-old differences and come together. Barring the January 26 incident, the unions have so far been united in leading a peaceful protest.
“Our biggest achievement is that we have managed to take the debate of corporatisation of agriculture and its financial implications on farmers to an international level. The way farmers across the country are now gearing up to continue the fight gives us immense satisfaction, even as we keep away from the politics,” adds Balbir Singh Rajewal of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Rajewal).
Over 600 farmers have already died during the course of the struggle. The farmer union leaders say that as they revel at being able to work in tandem, without letting egos come in between, they also renew their promise to continue the fight till the farm laws are withdrawn. “We owe it to those who died fighting and to all social, religious and cultural organisations that have continued to render unconditional support to our struggle,” Rajewal adds.
Farmers mark 1 yr of anti-farm law stir
{$excerpt:n}
