Appeals to the Punjab Farmers to join massively in the 5th March 2025 Pakka Morcha at Chandigarh
Demands immediate release of Balbir Singh Rajewal
NEW DELHI: Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) strongly protests against the dictatorial step by the Bhagwant Singh Mann Government of Punjab to suppress the democratic rights of farmers for peaceful protest. Instead of putting pressure on the Union Government to resolve the on-going genuine struggle of farmers by convening discussions with all the farmer organisations that are on the struggle path, adhering to the disgraceful path of unleashing Police at midnight in the houses to suppress and threaten the farmer's leaders is politically wrong and highly unfortunate.
SKM strongly demands the Chief Minister of Punjab to immediately release all the farmer leaders in Police Custody including the octogenarian Balbir Singh Rajewal and respect the citizens’ right for peaceful protest and support the genuine and long pending demands of the farmers. Chief Minister Mann shall realise that treating political protest by various sections of the people as criminal acts fails the constitutional spirit of India and converts the time tested democracy in our country into a mere Police Raj.
Yesterday, 3rd March 2025, the Chief Minister was personally present in the discussion with the 40 member SKM delegation at Chandigarh and the farmer leaders congratulated him for the repeal resolution adopted in the State Assembly against the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing. However, instead of being patient to listen and support the farmers on their long pending demands towards the Union Government including MSP@C2+50% with legally guaranteed procurement, comprehensive loan waiver in the context of 31 farmers forced to commit suicide daily across the country among others the Chief Minister Mann just demanded to defer the 5th March 2025 week long protest action at Chandigarh. Though framer leaders explained the importance of the protracted mass protest against the Union Government to achieve the genuine rights, the Chief Minister - without any reason- got provoked and just stopped the discussion and quit the meeting.
By late night on 3rd March 2025, as per the instruction of the Chief Minister, the Punjab Police started raiding houses of farmer leaders across Punjab and took several leaders into custody including octogenarian Balbir Singh Rajewal. Other farmer leaders in the custody include Ruldu Singh Mansa, Jangveer Singh Chouhan, Gurmeet Singh Bhatiwal, Nachhttar Singh Jaiton, Veerpal Singh Dhillon, Binder Singh Golewal, Gurnam Bhikhi and Harmesh Singh dhesi. Police Raids have been carried on in the houses of prominent farmer leaders including Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Raminder Singh Patiala, Buta Singh Burjgill, Harinder Singh lokhowal, Satnam Singh Ajnala, Gurmeet Singh Mehma and Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala.
The repressive attitude and arrogance displayed by the State Government is highly condemnable and not expected from an elected government that respects democracy. The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental right of the citizen and the authoritarian attitude of the State Government of not allowing protest will never be tolerated by the people of Punjab with the glorious legacy of Jallianwala bagh martyrs, Ghadar revolutionaries and Bhagat Singh. SKM strongly condemns such undesirable acts of cowardice and spinelessness by the Bhagwant Singh Mann Government.
SKM appeals to the farmers across Punjab to join the week-long protest action at Chandigarh and organise widespread campaigns in the villages to expose the fearful and anti-farmer police actions against the farmer leaders in Punjab by the Bhagwant Singh Mann Government.