The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (Sidhupur) has called a meeting on 14 August near the Tikri border, making attendance mandatory for all its office bearers, to realize that the three new members will be involved in protests and dharnas. Participation numbers are decreasing. Agricultural Law.
By issuing a letter to all the state, district and block level officials of the union, it has been said that strict action will be taken by the union against any office bearer who does not attend Saturday’s meeting.
BKU (Sidhupur) is one of the 32 farmers’ unions of Punjab, a part of the United Kisan Morcha (SKM) and has been opposing three agricultural laws.
Farmers across Punjab have been camping at Delhi’s borders for more than eight months to press for the withdrawal of three controversial agriculture laws passed by Parliament in September last year. Although the initial participation of protesters on the borders of Delhi was huge, following the violence during an alleged tractor parade by farmers on 26 January, the numbers have been cut with the agitators now being sent in batches to the border to protest . Participation was also reduced during the second wave of Covid, and later when farmers had to return home to harvest wheat and transplant paddy.
When contacted, BKU (Sidhupur) block president Sukhmander Singh Dhilwan said, “The participation of office-bearers has come down a bit in recent times. But now most of the work has been done for the paddy crop. Therefore, a mandatory meeting of office bearers has been called on Saturday to take stock of the low attendance in the protests. We are the ones who have to guide others to be a part of these protests against agricultural laws. “
The letter issued by BKU (Sidhupur) functionary Resham Singh Yatri, however, has not gone down well with all farmers, with some protesting the alleged hidden threat of action if all did not attend the August 14 meeting.
“The letter indicates that it has become difficult for the Sangh to gather people on dharna and hence a meeting has been called to take stock of the situation. It is mentioned in this that the officials are also not participating fully. This clearly indicates that when dharnas are dragged for too long, it becomes difficult to maintain them,” said a farmer from Mansa sternly on the condition of anonymity.
Dhilwan, however, dismissed the claims of pressurizing the farmers. “Independence day is approaching and so we have to discuss many issues in the meeting so that we can guide the members. We do not want the January 26 violence to recur. Hence, the meeting has been made mandatory for all.”
“Sometimes, one needs to maintain discipline. One should not read between the lines,” he said.
.