Tohana/Fatehabad, 4 January, 2025 (Daljeet Kaur)
On the call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a large Mahapanchayat was held today here with farmers from Haryana and Punjab, issuing a stern warning to the Modi government to immediately withdraw the draft of the National Agricultural Marketing policy framework and begin discussions with farmer organizations.
Despite the bad weather, agitated farmers gathered in large numbers at the grain market, where many national leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha also participated. Women also took part in significant numbers in the Mahapanchayat.
The Mahapanchayat was presided by the presidium formed by all the organizations.
Speakers expressed serious concern over the deteriorating health of Sardar Jagjeet Singh Dallewal, who is on a hunger strike, and said that if anything happens to him, the responsibility will lie with the central and Haryana governments.
The national leaders who attended the event included Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Rakesh Tikait, Dr. Darshan Pal, P Krishnaprasad, Raminder Patiala, Manjeet Singh Dhaner, Sukhdev Jammu, Revula Venkayya, Satyawan, Suresh Koth, Baldev Nihalgarh, Inderjeet Singh, Amrik Singh, Kiran Jeet Shekhon, Joginder Nain, Vikas Sisar, Ruldu Singh Mansa, Prem Singh Gehlawat, Karm Jeet Singh, Master Balbir, Harjinder Nanuana, Baba Gurdeep Singh, Subedar Ranbir Malik, Jagmati Sangwan.
Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that the draft issued on 25th November would lead to the grain trade falling into the hands of corporates. A sharp and large fight against the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund will be required. He appealed for unity on this day.
Rakesh Tikait stated that plans for the next movement around the MP will be presented before the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. He mentioned that the Haryana government is misleading the public about the Minimum Support Price for 24 crops.
The central government must take action to save the life of senior leader Jagjeet Singh Dallewal, who is on a fast unto death. He informed that the senior leaders’ committee formed by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha is working towards unity.
The senior farmer leaders declared that a National General Body Meeting would be held on 24th January in Delhi, during which the next phase of the movement would be announced.
In the Mahapanchayat, Comrade Inderjeet Singh presented the National Agricultural Market policy framework draft, which was unanimously rejected, and a resolution was passed urging all village panchayats to send this rejection to the central government by 10th January 2025.
