SKM Moga Mahapanchayat Calls for Unity; Dallewal on Day 51

On 9 Jan, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) conducted a Mahapanchayat (big farmers’ gathering) at Moga, Panjab. SKM renewed calls for unity across Panjab and beyond to pressure the Union govt. to concede demands such as a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price on crops and waivers of farmer debts. SKM leaders, including Joginder Singh Ugrahan and Balbir Singh Rajewal, urged all farmer unions—especially those protesting at the Panjab-Haryana Khanauri and Shambhu interstate borders—to unify their ongoing struggles. The eight-point resolution of the Mahapanchayat highlights the importance of unity among the three platforms—SKM, SKM non-political (NP), and Kisan Mukti Morcha (KMM)—to counter the Union govt.’s policies, particularly the National Policy Framework on Agriculture Marketing. Termed more dangerous than the previously repealed farm laws, the policy has become a rallying point for farmers. A six-member SKM committee, along with a 101-member farmers’ jatha (group) visited Khanauri and Shambhu. Raminder Singh Patiala, a member of the SKM unity committee stated, ‘our demands are identical. While ideological differences will remain, priority is to save Jagjit Singh Dallewal by collectively taking up our demands with the Center.’ SKM NP leader Jagjeet Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike is now on day 51. A delegation of Sikh BJP leaders reached Akal Takht (Eternal Throne; AT) requesting Jathedar (leader) Giani Raghbir Singh to intervene in Dallewal’s hunger strike. Dallewal responded, ‘Go to Modi not Akal Takht.’ Meanwhile, on 9 Jan, at Shambhu, farmer Resham Singh from KMM died by suicide, who’s note stated he felt ‘unheard.’ Bhartiya Kisan Union (Sidhupur) protester Joga Singh who was protesting at Khanauri also died on 12 Jan at a govt. hospital in Patiala. SKM has announced a Tractor March on 26 Jan, India’s Republic Day (WD Vol 3, Issue 2, Story 1).