SKM Condemns Punjab Police Crackdown on Farmers in Bathinda
The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has strongly condemned the recent crackdown by the Punjab Police during farmer protests on February 18. The union has accused the police of employing excessive force, including lathi-charge and tear gas shelling, along with mass detentions of farmers across several villages in the region.
Protests for Release of Jailed Leaders
The agitation was specifically launched to demand the release of two key leaders: Baldev Singh Chauke and Sagandeep Singh Jeond of BKU Ekta-Ugrahan. These individuals have been lodged in jail for the past ten months on murder charges related to earlier protests. Despite police action aimed at preventing a planned dharna at the DC office in Bathinda, the SKM claimed that farmers remained resolute and unwavering in their stance.
This steadfastness, according to the union, ultimately pressured the administration to secure bail for both leaders by Wednesday evening, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict.
Political and Legal Condemnations
The SKM has urgently called upon all political parties to condemn what it describes as the misuse of laws against the democratic right to protest, which is guaranteed by the Constitution of India. The union has directed specific demands towards the Bhagwant Mann government of Punjab, urging an immediate end to what it terms "police terror." Furthermore, the SKM insists that the state government address the genuine demands of farmers and resolve these issues through democratic means.
In a pointed allegation, the union stated that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is being misused to curb the right to protest and unjustly jail activists. The SKM emphasized that farmers have been compelled to intensify their agitation in response to sustained attacks on working people by the BJP-led Union government, highlighting a broader political context to the protests.
Key Demands of the Farmers' Union
The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha reiterated its core demands, which include:
- Implementation of remunerative Minimum Support Price (MSP) at C2+50% with guaranteed procurement for all crops.
- A comprehensive farm loan waiver to alleviate financial burdens on agricultural workers.
- Full enforcement of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 to safeguard land rights.
Additionally, the union voiced strong opposition to several proposed policies and agreements, including:
- The proposed US trade deal and other free trade agreements.
- The Seed Bill.
- The Electricity Bill.
- The VB GRAMG Act.
- The four Labour Codes.
Criticism of State Governments
The farmers added that suppressing genuine struggles through police repression has become a new normal in BJP-ruled states. They expressed particular condemnation for the Punjab government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party, for resorting to what they describe as authoritarian and anti-democratic measures. This criticism underscores the union's view that such actions are unacceptable and must be addressed to uphold democratic values and farmers' rights.
