BATHINDA: Senior farmer leader Rakesh Tikait has said that the farmer leaders who are contesting elections should not be taken into committee to deliberate along with government appointed nominees on minimum support (MSP).
As election campaigns will be priority of such leaders they may not be able to concentrate on serious discussions, Tikait said, adding that Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) will not stand by those farmer leaders contesting elections.
As per reliable sources in farm groups, the name of senior farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal had been almost finalised for MSP committee from Punjab. Now Rajewal a is face of the political front Sanyukt Samaj Morcha, formed by nearly twenty farmer groups from Punjab.
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 in the electoral arena should not be a part of the proposed committee for MSP though the final decision will be taken by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha. As election contesting leaders will be more concerned for the campaigning and under such circumstances, the discussions for MSP may not be on the priority list of such leaders”.
He, however, did not name any farmer leader.
Tikait said SKM is not contesting elections and will 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 that why so far the Central government has not moved further on forming committee for the MSP.
Tikait further said that after achieving historic victory on farm laws, the farmers are on four months vacations from SKM and now they will be contacted after the electoral process is over and during this time the farmers are free to take any decision of their choice, even to contest elections but SKM will not be a part of electoral politics and will not stand by any farmer leader who is into elections.
