BATHINDA: Senior farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has said farmer leaders who were planning to contest elections should not be taken into the committee to deliberate along with government-appointed nominees on minimum support price (SMEs). As election campaigning will be priority of such leaders, they may not be able to concentrate on serious discussions, Tikait said, adding the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) will not stand by those farmer leaders contesting elections.
As per reliable sources, the name of senior farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal had been almost finalised for MSP committee from Punjab. Now Rajewal is face of a political front Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, formed by nearly 20 farmer groups from Punjab.
Speaking to TOI over phone, Tikait said, “As elections are around the corner in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, and some of the farmer leaders are trying their luck in the elections. We want that the leaders into electoral arena should not be part of the proposed committee for MSP though the final decision will be taken by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha. Election contesting leaders will be more concerned about campaigning and under such circumstances the discussions for MSP may not on the priority of such leaders”.
He, however, did not name any farmer leader. Tikait said the SKM was not contesting elections and would not allow anyone to use its banner for elections. “The issues will be discussed in the next meeting of the SKM on January 15 and it will also be discussed why so far the central government has not moved further on forming committee for the MSP”.
Tikait also said that after achieving historic victory on farm laws, the farmers were on four-month vacation from SKM and now they would be contacted after the electoral process was over and during this time the farmers were free to take any decision of their choice, even to contest elections, but the SKM would not be part of electoral politics and would not stand by any farmer leader in elections.
As per reliable sources, the name of senior farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal had been almost finalised for MSP committee from Punjab. Now Rajewal is face of a political front Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, formed by nearly 20 farmer groups from Punjab.
Speaking to TOI over phone, Tikait said, “As elections are around the corner in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, and some of the farmer leaders are trying their luck in the elections. We want that the leaders into electoral arena should not be part of the proposed committee for MSP though the final decision will be taken by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha. Election contesting leaders will be more concerned about campaigning and under such circumstances the discussions for MSP may not on the priority of such leaders”.
He, however, did not name any farmer leader. Tikait said the SKM was not contesting elections and would not allow anyone to use its banner for elections. “The issues will be discussed in the next meeting of the SKM on January 15 and it will also be discussed why so far the central government has not moved further on forming committee for the MSP”.
Tikait also said that after achieving historic victory on farm laws, the farmers were on four-month vacation from SKM and now they would be contacted after the electoral process was over and during this time the farmers were free to take any decision of their choice, even to contest elections, but the SKM would not be part of electoral politics and would not stand by any farmer leader in elections.
.