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Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Unions vs Punjab govt: Ties hit another low, farm leaders accept CM Bhagwant Mann's challenge
Bathinda: The fast-worsening ties between farm unions and the Punjab govt have hit another low, with chief minister Bhagwant Mann being the primary provocateur this time Speaking in Bathinda on Thursday, Mann accused leaders of farm unions of making money through illegal means and using that wealth to acquire huge tracts of land, and shares in hospitals and hotels. He even challenged farm unionists to a debate on the agrarian crisis. Angered by the statement, farm leaders have accused the CM of repeatedly insulting them. Senior farm leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal and Joginder Singh Ugrahan have accepted the CM's challenge and asked him to fix the place, date and time for an open debate on agrarian issues. They said, in a statement, that they are eager to listen to him and raise issues. Other farm unions accused Mann of "dancing to the tunes of the central govt and corporates". "If he has a problem with farmer organisations or their leaders, he should come out with facts, but should not try to show them in a bad light without proof and try to create a wedge between urban people and farmers. Such behaviour clearly shows how arrogant he has become, and this arrogance will not last long," said farm organisation BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) secretary Shingara Singh Mann. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo Kirti Kisan Union general secretary Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala said by going beyond the state's financial resources in making claims of acquiring 24,000 acres of land for developing urban estates in Ludhiana, Mann was unmasking his "pro-corporate face". "He knows that with this, the farmers will be hit the hardest and will raise a hue and cry. In a pre-emptive move, he is trying to corner them and wants to remove the tag of running a soft govt which is always taking U-turns. Now he wants to show that he is heading a strong govt that can take on the mighty farmer movement. Apart from this, he is annoyed that when opposition parties have failed in discharging their duties in raising issues and opposing the govt, farmers are acting strongly, even more than opposition parties, and he is taking on the farm groups," said Deep Singh Wala. Coldest ties in a long time The relationship between Punjab govt and farm unions had never been so sore before. When it came to farmers, Punjab chief ministers in the past were restrained, especially in showcasing their body language and words, in dealing with protesting farmers. In his initial days, CM Bhagwant Mann mirrored this tact. During the initial part of the Delhi Chalo 2 on the borders of Punjab and Haryana, Mann's statements were mostly in faviour of farmers. This, however, changed on March 3, when Mann invited farm groups affiliated with Sanyukt Kisan Morcha for talks. He showed his annoyance about the call by farmers for a weeklong protest in Chandigarh from March 5 in support of their demands and used harsh words for them. Some days later, the flashpoint was reached when leaders of farm forums Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha were arrested, and protest morchas at Shambhu and Khanauri were demolished, with complaints of valuable items of farmers, including tractor-trailers, going missing.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers gherao AAP MLA Chetan Singh Jouramajra in Patiala village over tractor-trailers going missing from Shambhu protest site on Punjab-Haryana border
1 2 Patiala: Tensions flared in Patiala district on Tuesday as angry farmers gheraoed AAP MLA Chetan Singh Jouramajra during his visit to villages in Samana constituency. The confrontation stemmed from the farmers' outrage over their tractor-trolleys and belongings allegedly being stolen when police evicted them from the Shambu protest site in March. The farmers, most of them associated with BKU (Ekta Azad), cornered Jouramajra in Bhedpur village and questioned his silence over the detention of farmers from his own constituency. "You tell me what developmental work you want me to do in my constituency. I didn't go to Shambu and don't know about it," Jouramajra told the agitated crowd. He, however, directed local officials to investigate the matter and recover the stolen tractors at the earliest. In a move to pacify the crowd, the MLA also promised to personally compensate one of the affected farmers from Bhedpur village by purchasing a new tractor for him. But the farmers were unconvinced, questioning why tractor-trolleys, refrigerators, and other valuable belongings to them vanished after the police crackdown. Jaswant Singh, a functionary of BKU (Ekta Azad), said the gherao was in response to AAP govt's handling of the March 19 police action at Shambu and Khanauri interstate borders. "Our tractors, trolleys, and personal belongings were looted after police evicted us. Many elderly farmers were left abandoned at night. The govt must answer for this," he said. Farmers had been camping at Shambu and Khanauri since Feb 13, 2024, as part of their 'Delhi Chalo 2.0' protest spearheaded by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), demanding a legal guarantee to minimum support price (MSP) on all crops. However, the protestors were removed by state govt on March 19.
New Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BKU Atal chief booked for announcing bounty to behead Rakesh Tikait
LUCKNOW: A man identified as Amit Chaudhary, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Atal), has been booked over a social media post in which he allegedly announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for anyone who would behead Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait. The viral post sparked protests by Tikait's followers in Muzaffarnagar and Meerut. Cases were registered against Chaudhary at Civil Lines Police Stations in Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, and Agra. Muzaffarnagar Station House Officer Ashutosh Kumar Singh stated that in the viral video, the accused purportedly announced a Rs 5 lakh reward for the beheading of Tikait. A case was also lodged against Chaudhary in the Jani police station area of Meerut, confirmed by Station In-charge Mahesh Kumar Rathore. In a video released in Meerut on Sunday, Amit Chaudhary is shown stating that he would give Rs 5 lakh to anyone who beheads Rakesh Tikait.
New Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
UP man booked for announcing reward for beheading BKU's Rakesh Tikait in social media post
MUZAFFARNAGAR: A man has been booked over his social media post in which he allegedly announced a reward for anyone who beheads Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait. With the viral post sparking protests by the followers of the farmer leader in Muzaffarnagar and Meerut, a case was registered against Amit Choudhry at the Civil Lines Police Station in Muzaffarnagar. Station House Officer Ashutosh Kumar Singh said on Sunday that in the viral video, the accused purportedly announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for the beheading of Tikait. Led by the BKU's Muzaffarnagar district president Naveen Rathi, hundreds of protesters demanded immediate police action against Choudhry. Rathi said he has lodged an FIR against the accused. In Meerut, BKU activists gheraoed Jani police station, demanding action against Chowdhury. BKU Meerut district president Anurag Chaudhary led a tractor-trolley protest and staged a sit on the police station premises. Police in both districts issued statements regarding the registration of FIRs but did not elaborate on the accused and reasons why he made such statements against Tikait. It is part of the probe, they said.
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Indian Express
UP man booked for announcing reward for beheading BKU's Rakesh Tikait in social media post
A man has been booked over his social media post in which he allegedly announced a reward for anyone who beheads Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait. With the viral post sparking protests by the followers of the farmer leader in Muzaffarnagar and Meerut, a case was registered against Amit Choudhry at the Civil Lines Police Station in Muzaffarnagar. Station House Officer Ashutosh Kumar Singh said on Sunday that in the viral video, the accused purportedly announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for the beheading of Tikait. Led by the BKU's Muzaffarnagar district president Naveen Rathi, hundreds of protesters demanded immediate police action against Choudhry. Rathi said he has lodged an FIR against the accused. In Meerut, BKU activists gheraoed Jani police station, demanding action against Chowdhury. BKU Meerut district president Anurag Chaudhary led a tractor-trolley protest and staged a sit on the police station premises. Police in both districts issued statements regarding the registration of FIRs but did not elaborate on the accused and reasons why he made such statements against Tikait. It is part of the probe, they said.
