Farmers raise slogans during the protest against the three agricultural laws at the Singhu border on Monday. PTI
Mukesh Tandon
Tribune News Service
Sonepat, February 8
Farmers’ groups from Punjab have come out in support of the two farmers’ groups suspended after the violence in Delhi on Republic Day.
During a meeting of the forum of 32 Punjab farmers’ groups at Kundli yesterday, the farmer leaders questioned the suspension of the two farmer groups and demanded revocation of their suspension. The three-member panel formed to look into the issue also sought more time to submit its report.
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The joint forum of 32 farmer unions had on January 27 suspended Surjeet Singh Phool, president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Krantikari), and Harpal Singh Sangha of the Azaad Kisan Committee, Doaba, for reportedly deviating from their route during the tractor march in the Capital.
According to sources, the issue of suspension was raised by other farmer leaders from Punjab. They asked why action was initiated only against two groups when thousands of farmers had turned towards the Outer Ring Road on Republic Day.
The farmer leaders stated that they had deviated from the route due to a traffic jam on account of tractors and other vehicles.
The farmer leaders demanded revocation of the suspension and the matter was deferred for the next meeting as three senior leaders — Darshan Pal Singh, Balbir Singh Rajewal and Jagjeet Singh Dallewal — were not present.
Major Singh Punnawal, general secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, and Baldev Singh Nihalgarh, general secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, submitted their statements in writing to the three-member panel.
They stated that they had deviated from the route unknowingly and turned towards the Outer Ring Road. They stated that when Harpal Singh Sangha, accompanying them, came to know of this, he decided to move back to the border.
They stated that their vehicle developed a fault, after which they reached Kundli in a private vehicle. A farmer leader from Punjab said on the condition of anonymity that the committee had sought four days to submit its report.
Kin of Accused seek fair probe
Karnal: “My father is innocent. He couldn’t have indulged in any violence,” says Amarjeet Singh, son of Sukhdev Singh (60), who was arrested by the Delhi Police from Chandigarh in connection with the Red Fort violence. “My father had been camping at Singhu for over two months. On Sunday, we were told that he was arrested from Chandigarh. He is innocent.” Seeking a fair probe, Sukhdev’s family claimed the police were hiding the truth. TNS