Rift in farmers' movement as corruption allegations fly

Time of India

28-04-2025

Chandigarh: Sharp divisions have erupted within influential farmers' group, the
Sanyukt Kisan Morcha
(Non-Political), after one of its senior leaders accused its top figures of corruption and collusion with the central govt — allegations the accused have denied strongly.
More than a month after protesters from the SKM (NP) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) were removed forcibly from the Shambhu and Khanauri borders between Punjab and Haryana, cracks between farmer unionists have become public. Inderjit Singh Kotbudda, a prominent figure in the
Kisan Sangharsh Committee
Punjab (Kotbudda faction), accused farmer unionists Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Kaka Singh Kotda, and Abhimanyu Kohar of
financial misconduct
running into crores of rupees, selling off donated supplies meant for protesters, and negotiating secretly with the govt — all while the broader farmers' struggle made little headway.
Taking to Facebook Live on Monday, Kotbudda accused the three of acting like "dictators", excluding others from key decision-making processes and betraying the trust of thousands of supporters. He claimed that funds and donations, including wheat and flour, were misused, suggesting the money could have been better spent, such as waiving off farm debts. Kotbudda also pointed out that Dallewal had raised concerns about financial irregularities previously following the 2021 farmers' protest victory near Delhi, and urged him now to come clean.
In a swift rebuttal, Dallewal and Kohar dismissed the allegations as baseless and laid with political motives. They defended the movement's transparency, saying every decision regarding finances and resource management was made collectively and in the open. "There is no evidence to support these wild claims," Dallewal said. "At times when essential supplies were needed, surplus wheat donations were sold responsibly to meet those needs."
Kohar echoed the sentiment, challenging Kotbudda to present evidence publicly if he stood by his accusations. He added that Kotbudda had attended an April 24 meeting of the SKM (NP) but left early without raising any concerns. The accused leaders suggested the allegations to be part of a broader conspiracy to tarnish Dallewal's image, given especially his high-profile 132-day fast that they claimed had helped bring national attention to demands for a minimum support price (MSP) law for farmers. The leadership now considers filing a defamation case against Kotbudda.
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