Why Haryana khaps & Punjab farmers differ on ‘Delhi Chalo’

Gurugram: Unlike nearly four years ago when they extended full support to farmers from Punjab, Haryana-based farmers’ groups and khap panchayats are largely maintaining an arm’s length from Singhu and Khanauri borders where hundreds have gathered in light of the call for ‘Delhi Chalo’ issued by two umbrella outfits of farmers’ groups.

It is a far cry from the bonhomie seen during the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM)-led 16-month agitation that had Punjab farmers camp on Delhi’s borders from November 2020 to December 2021.

“These organisations severed ties with the SKM after the year-long dharna in Delhi and constituted their own SKM (Non-Political). They didn’t consult us before giving out a call for Delhi Chalo. We are working for the success of Grameen Bandh on 16 February during which farmers and labourers will boycott work,” Mann told The Print Wednesday.

He, however, condemned the use of force against agitating farmers. The government should resolve the issue through negotiations, he added.

Rashtriya Kisan Manch state president Prahlad Singh Bharukhera also spoke along the same lines. 

“The SKM and its associated farmer bodies had already announced Grameen Bandh in collaboration with trade unions. However, BKU (Ekta Sidhupur) chief Jagjit Singh Dallewal announced Delhi Chalo. He could have rather supported the bandh and waited for a few days for the launch of Delhi Chalo in consultation with other outfits,” Bharukhera told ThePrint Wednesday.

Gaon Savera editor Mandeep Punia, a rural crisis analyst, explained that many of the farmer leaders were seen cosying up to the BJP. “Last month, Naresh Tikait participated in the BJP’s Viksit Bharat Yatra with Union minister Sanjeev Balyan (at Sisauli in Uttar Pradesh) where he was effusive in his praise for the minister,” Punia told The Print. 

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Though not seen directly with the BJP, Naresh Tikait’s younger brother Rakesh Tikait has not shown any support to the present agitation either, he added.

Punia said that among the bigger SKM names who participated in the 2020 agitation, Yogendra Yadav has entered active politics by participating in the Congress’s Bharat Jodo Yatra. Another SKM leader, Balbir Singh Rajewal, contested the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls only to lose by a wide margin. Similarly, Bharatiya Kisan Union’s Haryana chief Gurnam Singh Charuni tried his luck in electoral politics but met the same fate.

On Thursday, leaders of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) in a meeting agreed on three points, including the decision to hold a tractor yatra in all tehsils in Haryana on 17 February and to hold another joint meeting in Kurukshetra to which farmers’ groups, khaps, labour bodies, among others, have been invited.

Though BKU (Charuni) president Gurnam Singh Charuni initially told ThePrint that he would not respond to both the call for ‘Delhi Chalo’ and the Grameen Bandh appeal, he made a U-turn in a video released Wednesday condemning the police’s strong-arm tactics. The government should have instead engaged with the agitating farmers, he said.

A major voice in the 2020-21 agitation, Charuni had helped Punjab farmers cross barricades erected by the Haryana police. 

The outfit’s media incharge Rakesh Bains told ThePrint that the main SKM was no more a part of the umbrella body after the Punjab polls. He said that the outfits at the helm of ‘Delhi Chalo’ didn’t hold any talks with them before giving out a call.

But Bains supported the demands of Punjab farmers, saying that they were the same as those made earlier — a law guaranteeing MSP for all crops, waiver of farm loans, free power, and implementation of the Swaminathan panel’s recommendations, among others.

Inderjit Singh, national vice president of the CPI-M affiliated All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), said that hardly two-three farmers’ outfits are involved now as compared to the SKM-led agitation that got the support of 40-plus outfits.

“Among the major farmer leaders heading Delhi Chalo, Jagjit Singh Dallewal is now the president of BKU (Ekta Sidhupur), a breakaway faction of SKM. Swaran Singh Pandher of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha was never a part of SKM. Even during the 13-month-long farmers’ agitation on Delhi’s border, Pandher had a separate camp at Singhu border and a separate stage for announcements. Abhimanyu Kohar is the lone farmer leader from Haryana in the breakaway faction of the SKM (Non-Political) headed by Dallewal,” Singh told ThePrint.

He alleged that these outfits, which were considered close to actor-activist Deep Sidhu and gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana, were responsible for the Red Fort tractor parade on Republic Day in 2021.

“Dallewal had broken ties with the SKM after the 13-month-long agitation in Delhi. Now, he has constituted a parallel umbrella organisation by the name of SKM (Non-Political). Before announcing Delhi Chalo, his outfit didn’t consult any farmer organisation in Haryana.” 

The AIKS leader, too, condemned the use of force by Haryana police at Shambhu and Khanauri borders.

Pagree Sambhal Jatta Kisan Sangharsh Samiti state president Manjeet Nathwan during an emergency meeting Thursday of its office bearers at Fatehabad asked them to take a call on a strategy for the ongoing agitation.

“We were neither consulted about the call of Delhi Chalo, nor approached for support. But the manner in which the Haryana police used teargas shells and rubber bullets, injuring many of the farmers, is the worst example of misuse of government machinery against the citizenry,” Nathwan told The Print.

On Thursday, the Samiti took a decision to free toll plazas in Haryana.

Also Read: Punjab & Haryana farmer outfits prepare for tractor march to Delhi, Samyukta Kisan Morcha not involved 

Khaps focussed on Grameen Bandh

Khap panchayats of Haryana had played an important role in the 2020-21 farmers’ agitation, particularly after Rakesh Tikait’s emotional appeal. 

But this time, most of them including the likes of Bharat Bhumi Bachao Sangharsh Samiti president Ramesh Dalal, Dhankhar khap president Yudhbir Dhankhar and Phogat khap chief Balwant Phogat are restricting themselves to condemn the use of force by the police.

“We are preparing for the Grameen Bandh and we will make it a success. There will be no agricultural or labour activities on that day. Grameen Bandh is being organised to demand MSP for crops, pension for farmers, strengthening of MNREGS, restoration of old pension scheme, and certain other demands,” said Kandela khap president Om Prakash Kandela.

Considered close to the Haryana government, Dahiya khap president Surender Dahiya, meanwhile, alleged that the ongoing agitation had a “political motive” given its timing.

“The SKM never talked of farmers’ demands in the past, more than two years after its Delhi siege ended in December 2021. Now, when the elections are near, they have launched a fresh agitation. The government has tried hard to end the impasse in a series of meetings, but they are adamant to go ahead with the agitation,” he said.

Sangwan khap president and Independent MLA Sombir Sangwan, who supports the Haryana government, refused to comment when contacted by ThePrint.

In contrast, Meham Chaubisi khap president Mehar Singh Rathee came out in support of Punjab farmers, citing a saying that goes in Haryana: even a mother doesn’t feed her child unless it cries.

“Every individual has the right to hold a protest. But what the Haryana government is doing to them on the state’s borders with Punjab is deplorable. Our khap is with the farmers and we will definitely stand with them whenever they need our support,” Rathee said.

(Edited by Tony Rai)

Also Read: Khattar govt plans to help Haryana farmers get land in African nations. Farm leaders call it ‘jumla’