From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: Sanyukt Samaj Morcha (SSM), a breakaway group of the farmers in Punjab led by Balbir Singh Rajewal, on Monday declared its second list of candidates for the Punjab Assembly elections.
Two days ago, it had released the first list of 10 candidates, including Rajewal, who was a prominent face during the year-long farmers’ protests at Delhi borders.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, formed in November 2020 as a coalition of over 40 Indian farmers’ unions to spearhead protests against the now abolished farm laws, has disassociated itself with Rajewal, saying it always disallowed political parties to join the protests and hence it has nothing to do with Rajewal group deciding to jump into politics.
In a statement, it said: “Farmer unions contesting the Punjab polls are no longer our part. Those organisations taking part in the polls are not part of SKM, the umbrella body that spearheaded the movement against the repealed farm laws. We will decide about ur relations with them in a meeting of the Morcha in April.”
It said the SKM will hit the ground again from February 1 to launch a “Mission UP” movement against the BJP if the government does not relent to its demands. The Morcha held its meeting at the Singhu border of Delhi on Saturday and expressed concern that the Centre has not yet kept its promise to the farmers on the legal guarantee of the MSP payments. It also gave a call to farmers to observe a nationwide “Day of Betrayal” on January on the government reneging on its assurances to the farmers.
