A day after receiving an invitation from the government for talks, prominent Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan declined to participate in the scheduled meeting, citing unfavourable conditions.
Ugrahan, who leads the Bharti Kisan Union Ekta Ugrahan (BKU Ugrahan), emphasised that farmers are not avoiding discussions but insisted that three key demands must be met before any dialogue with the government takes place.
He stated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann should be present at the meeting, all arrested farmers and leaders should be released immediately along with the return of their confiscated belongings, and compensation should be provided for property damage.
The refusal to engage in talks comes in response to the police action on March 19, when leaders from the Shambhu and Kanauri Morcha protests were arrested, and demonstrators were forcibly removed from the protest sites. Ugrahan alleged that those present at the sites were detained, their belongings were thrown into fields, and some items were stolen.
The aggressive police measures triggered further demonstrations on Thursday, which resulted in additional arrests, including those of farmers protesting outside Deputy Commissioner (DC) offices. Despite these events, the Punjab Government extended an invitation to SKM leaders for discussions.
Ugrahan also recalled a previous meeting with Chief Minister Mann on March 3, which was abruptly cut short when the Chief Minister walked out. Given these past occurrences, he questioned the legitimacy of engaging in another meeting under the current circumstances.
Also Read: Farmers 'under attack' in govt 'conspiracy': Channi
While he acknowledged the importance of dialogue for resolving issues, he stressed that discussions should take place in an environment conducive to meaningful negotiations between the government and public organisations.
BKU Ugrahan has also raised concerns over the well-being of detained farmers, pointing out that their tractor-trailers, luggage, and electronic appliances remain unaccounted for.
The organisation is still working to determine how many of its leaders have been arrested and continues to demand their immediate release along with the return of all confiscated property.
Due to these unresolved concerns, BKU Ugrahan has decided not to participate in the government’s meeting scheduled for 4 pm today. However, the group reaffirmed its willingness to engage in discussions once its conditions are met.
Also read: Heavy deployment at Shambhu after farmers protest crackdown
As part of its continued protest, the organization has announced a day-long demonstration in Chandigarh on March 26 and has urged the government to allocate a designated site for the gathering.
Meanwhile, sources indicate that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will not be available for today’s meeting as he is scheduled to travel to 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 employing a "divide and rule" strategy, suggesting that the administration is facing criticism and is concerned about the possibility of a united farmer movement posing a challenge to its authority.
Mangat alleged that this was the reason behind the government’s selective invitation to the SKM for talks.
Also Read: Traffic resumes at Shambhu border, Khanauri set to open
Follow us
