“Release arrested farmer leaders, return their belongings and give compensation for damage to property first,” says Joginder Singh Ugrahan
A day after receiving an invitation from the government for talks, prominent Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan has declined to participate in the scheduled meeting. Ugrahan, who heads the Bharti Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan (BKU Ugrahan), cited unfavourable conditions and laid down three key demands before engaging in dialogue with the government.
Reiterating that farmers are not running away from talks, Ugrahan stated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann should be present in the meeting, all arrested farmers and leaders should be released immediately and their belongings should be returned, and compensation should be provided for damage to property.
The decision follows the police action on March 19, during which leaders from the Shambhu and Kanauri Morcha protests were arrested, and the protesters were forcibly evicted from the sites by police forces. According to Ugrahan, individuals present at the sites were detained, their belongings were discarded in fields and some possessions were stolen.
“The police action sparked protests on Thursday, leading to further arrests of more farmers, including those demonstrating outside Deputy Commissioner (DC) offices,” Ugrahan stated. “While this was happening, the Punjab Government extended invitations to the SKM for talks.”
He also referred to a previous meeting with the Chief Minister on March 3, which was abruptly cut short when Chief Minister Mann walked out.
“Given these circumstances, it is important to determine whether a meeting is even appropriate. While dialogue is necessary for resolution, it must be ensured that a conducive environment exists between the government and public organisations,” he said.
BKU Ugrahan has also highlighted the plight of detained farmers, claiming that their tractor-trailers, luggage and electronic appliances remained unattended.
The organisation is yet to ascertain the whereabouts of how many of its leaders have been arrested. “We demand the immediate release of all detained leaders and the return of their confiscated property,” Ugrahan added.
Given these concerns, BKU Ugrahan has decided not to participate in today’s meeting that was scheduled for 4 pm. However, the group reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue, stating that it was open to talks once its conditions were met.
The organization has announced a day-long demonstration in Chandigarh on March 26 and has requested the government to allocate a protest site.
Meanwhile, sources say that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will not be available for the meeting today as he is scheduled to leave for Chennai for a delimitation meeting convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Reacting to this development, SKM non-political leader Guramneet Singh Mangat accused the government of using a “divide and rule” tactic. “The government is facing widespread criticism and fears that a unified farmer movement could pose a challenge for them. This is why they extended an invitation only to the SKM,” Mangat remarked.
The Tribune
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