SKM extends invitation to Dallewal, Pandher for 15 January unity meeting

In a crucial step towards fostering unity among farmer unions, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has invited veteran farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal and prominent unionist Balbir Singh Pandher to attend a meeting scheduled for 15 January in Patiala.

The meeting aims to consolidate efforts in pressing the Union government to address farmers’ long-standing demands, particularly the legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) on crops.

A six-member SKM delegation, comprising Balbir Singh Rajewal, Darshan Pal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Raminder Singh Patiala, Jangveer Singh, and Krishna Prasad, visited the protest site at Khanauri on Friday, where Dallewal has been on an indefinite hunger strike since 26 November.

This visit follows SKM’s adoption of a “unity resolution” at the Kisan Mahapanchayat held in Moga the previous day. The resolution underscored the urgent need for a united front to compel the government into addressing farmers’ grievances.

Balbir Singh Rajewal, speaking on the initiative, said, “We have extended an invitation to the protesting unions for the 15 January meeting to formulate a unified strategy. Our shared goal is to secure a legal guarantee for MSP. I am confident that all farmer unions, who stood shoulder to shoulder during the Delhi border protests, will reunite for this common cause.”

Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), echoed the sentiment, adding, “Our challenges and demands are the same, and unity is our greatest strength. We must rise above internal differences and refrain from making divisive remarks about one another. The first step towards unity has been taken.”

“We have urged SKM leaders to bolster this movement without delay. Dallewal’s health is precarious, and his life symbolises the urgency of our demands. It is imperative that his sacrifice not be in vain,” Kaka Singh Kotra, a senior leader of SKM (Non-Political) stated.

The 15 January meeting is poised to reignite the collective spirit that once galvanized the farmers’ movement during the historic Delhi border protests.

With union leaders signaling their readiness to reconcile differences and forge a unified front, this gathering could mark a turning point in the ongoing fight for farmers’ rights. The outcome will not only shape the movement’s trajectory but also affirm the unwavering determination of India’s farming community in the face of governmental neglect.