'Jind 'mahapanchayat' passes resolution to revoke farm laws

JIND (Haryana): The Kisan Maha panchayat amid the presence of thousands of farmers in Jind district of Haryana on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution to revoke the three contentious farm laws where BKU leader RakeshTikait announced that "if their demands were not accepted, they will hold another 'mahapanchayat' of India level".

To gather support and build up momentum for the farmers' agitation, Tikait reached Kandela village near here to address the 'mahapanchayat' where he was given a grand welcome. Tikait was accompanied by state BharatiyaKisan Union (BKU) President Gurnam Singh Chaduni.

Kandela 'khap' President Tek Ram, the organiser of the 'mahapanchayat', said besides revoking the farm laws, the resolution demanded that the government ensure that the farmers get MSP (minimum support price) for their crops and withdrawal of cases against farmers booked for violence on Republic Day in Delhi.

Ram said representatives of at least 50 'khaps' or community courts from across the state participated in the 'mahapanchayat', which came days after the other mahapanchayat held in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing the gathering, Tikait, showing his aggressive posture, said: "If the farmers' demands are not accepted by the Centre, they would hold 'mahapanchayat' at national level."

"When the ruler is afraid, he does fortification," he said, indicating his tough posture to the government. He said a campaign would be carried out from village to village in Haryana till February 10 to gather momentum against the agitation.

A day before attending the 'mahapanchayat', Tikait said the farmers protesting against the three Central farm laws will take out a pan-India tractor rally if the government doesn't listen to them.

Earlier too, Kandela, the venue of the 'mahapanchayat', has been a centre of farmers' agitation. The farmers had launched an agitation from Kandela in 2002, demanding waiver of electricity dues.

BKU leader RakeshTikait and other farmer union leaders at the KisanMahapanchayat in a village in Haryana's Jind district on Wednesday had a narrow escape as the stage collapsed with leaders on it. A video of farmers' leaders falling as the stage caved in surfaced.

The 'mahapanchayat', the first in the state, was organised at Kandela village sports stadium. It was organised by Haryana khap leaders to discuss the future of the ongoing farmers' protests.

Kandela 'khap' President Tek Ram, the organiser of the 'mahapanchayat', said besides demanding the repeal of farm laws, the resolution demanded that the government ensure that the farmers get minimum support price (MSP) for their crops, withdrawal of cases against farmers booked for violence on Republic Day in Delhi, waiving off the loan of the farmers and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations. (IANS)

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