Farmers’ stir: KMM to participate in unity meeting tomorrow, SKM (non-political) to skip

However, SKM (non-political) leaders, including Abhimanyu Kohar, announced in Bathinda on Tuesday morning that they would not join the meeting. “The unity meeting was called on January 24 without consulting us. We had already planned mahapanchayats at Rattanpura, Khanauri, and Shambhu on February 11, 12, and 13, respectively. Since we are engaged in these programmes, we cannot send any delegation,” he said.

Kohar added that they remain open to other unity talks to be held in future and welcomed suggestions via email or in person at the Khanauri border before their scheduled meeting with central government representatives in Chandigarh on February 14.

Pandher had earlier claimed to speak on behalf of both forums. While the KMM dominates the Shambhu protest site, SKM (non-political) has a stronger presence at Khanauri, while both groups are present at Rattanpura in Rajasthan.

Sukhjit Singh Hardojhande, another SKM (non-political) leader, said, “We will be occupied with the Kisan Mahapanchayat in Khanauri on Wednesday, making it impossible to attend the Chandigarh meeting.”

Meanwhile, a new demand — opposing the National Framework Policy on Agricultural Marketing — has also created a rift. Pandher indicated KMM’s willingness to consider adding this issue to their list of 12 existing demands for agricultural reforms. He stated that his delegation will discuss this demand at Wednesday’s unity meeting.

Kohar maintained that while SKM (non-political) opposes the policy — having protested against it and burned its copies on January 13 — their primary focus remains on the 12 core demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP. “We may take up this issue later,” he added.

Sources suggest that the KMM is attempting to involve some SKM leaders in the February 14 meeting with Union ministers, but SKM (non-political) has declined. “If any union wants to share suggestions, they can do so before the February 14 meeting,” SKM leaders stated.

Despite a shared goal, the emerging differences over strategy and participation in key discussions indicate that cracks within the farmer unions are widening. The protest at Khanauri and Shambhu borders will complete one year on Thursday, and the forum leaders will have a meeting on Friday with a delegation of Union ministers and state government representatives at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Sector 26, Chandigarh.

The Centre had extended an invitation for talks on January 19 after farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal started taking medical assistance through IV fluids. The talks will be resuming after a year.

In February 2024, five rounds of talks took place with a panel of three Union ministers in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his other cabinet colleagues. The last round was held on February 18 last year.