Chandigarh/Patiala, 14 January 2025: Efforts to unify key farmer unions remained unresolved on Monday as representatives from Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), SKM (Non-Political), and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) met in Patran, Patiala district.
The three forums, aiming to finalize a common minimum program, agreed to hold a second round of talks on January 18 after deliberating for over two and a half hours.
Farm leaders Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Darshan Pal, and Kaka Singh Kotra participated in the discussions. The talks unfolded amid growing support for farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for 49 days, demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Prices (MSP) on crops.
SKM leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan described the meeting as “productive,” underscoring the importance of unity among farm unions. “Public support hinges on our ability to stand united. We are determined to achieve this,” Ugrahan stated.
However, speculation of discord arose when Balbir Singh Rajewal exited midway. Countering these rumors, Raminder Patiala and Abhimanyu Kohar clarified Rajewal’s departure stemmed from personal commitments.
Kaka Singh Kotra of SKM (Non-Political) emphasized the need for collective consultation before the next meeting. “We aim to recreate the historic success of the 2020-21 farm agitation by consolidating our efforts,” he said.
The unions seek to outline an agenda addressing key demands, such as a legal framework for MSP, debt waivers, and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations.
Meanwhile, copies of the draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing were burned across Punjab by various farm groups as a sign of protest.
