Punjab farmer forums move towards unity, but full consensus remains distant

Chandigarh: A meeting of three major farmer forums in Punjab at Kisan Bhawan on Tuesday laid the groundwork for farmer unity, though a complete consensus remains a challenge.

The discussions, which lasted several hours, saw all parties aligning on a ‘Common Minimum Programme.’ However, farmer leaders acknowledged that extensive deliberations would still be required to achieve full unity.

The three forums—Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, and Samyukta Kisan Morcha—will now consult their respective stakeholders before reconvening.

Around 66 farmer organizations are affiliated with these groups. During the meeting, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha shared a draft proposal with the Shambhu and Khanauri factions, which was accepted after minor modifications.

Discussions also covered farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal’s statement regarding an audio clip of Abhimanyu Kohar.

It was agreed that neither side would make statements against the other. The meeting lasted two hours, followed by separate discussions within SKM (Non-Political), KMM, and SKM. Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of BKU Ekta Ugrahan, stated that contentious demands had been set aside, with all groups focusing on the common minimum program.