The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) – a coalition of over forty Indian farmers’ unions protesting against the three Union farm laws – will issue of a call for all-India rail roko on October 18 if their demands are not met by October 11. The rail roko will be between 10am and 4pm on October 18, the members of SKM stated.
The umbrella body under which the farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, have been staging protests against the Centre’s three central agriculture laws — Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 – will also hold vigil for the five people (four farmers and one journalist) on October 12 in Tikona. They were killed on October 3 in Lakhimpur Kheri massacre.
“From there, a series of actions will be taken up to put pressure on Modi and Yogi governments, to secure justice for this massacre of farmers. SKM appeals to people to organise prayer meetings on 12th of October in gurudwaras, temples, churches, mosques and any other public places, and organise prayer and shraddhanjali meetings. SKM appeals that candelight vigils be organised on 12th October evening,” a statement released by SKM read.
The statement further adds, “All peace-loving citizens are urged to join these candlelight vigils or light 5 candles outside their homes as homage to the 5 martyrs. On this day, all citizens participating in the farmers’ movement will re-commit themselves to the struggle until we secure all our demands, and to ensure that the martyrs’ sacrifice does not go in vain”.
The farmers’ body also noted the apology tendered by Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar in a party workers’ meeting on Sunday as a victory. The SKM had been demanding resignation of Haryana CM since his speech where he asked his party workers to take up lathis and indulge in violence against farmers came to light. During the speech, he called upon 1,000 volunteers from different regions to pick up sticks and fight the “furious farmers”.
Meanwhile, Ajay Mishra Teni’s son Ashish failed to appear before crime branch today despite summons. Senior Counsel Harsh Salve, appearing for UP government, submitted before the court that he would be questioned tomorrow as he was not well today. SKM alleges that Ashish was driving one of SUVs that ran over the farmers marching in Tikonia on October 3. His father, currently a Minister in PM Narendra Modi’s government, refuted this allegations by saying that his son was not in the vehicle and that “his driver was driving the SUV”.
MoS Mishra was quoted saying post proceedings, “We have full faith in law. My son is innocent. He got a notice on Thursday but he said he was not well. He will appear before the police tomorrow and give his statement and evidence as he is innocent”.
