Will boycott talks if Punjab ministers involved, say farmer forums

Bathinda: Two major farmers' forums have threatened to boycott a key meeting with the central govt on May 4 if Punjab ministers are included in the talks.
The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) said they had communicated their stand to central ministers after receiving an invitation to the meeting proposed in Chandigarh.
The decision was finalised during a joint session of the groups on Saturday, attended by leaders Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarvan Singh Pandher. It follows anger over the events of March 19, when farmers allege that Punjab ministers assured them no action would be taken against protesters — only for their leaders to be arrested and protest camps at Shambhu and Khanauri to be dismantled forcibly just hours later.
KMM's Sarvan Singh Pandher said: "We feel betrayed. The Punjab govt stabbed us in the back. We cannot trust them and have informed the central govt that we will not sit with Punjab ministers again."
The groups now await a response from the central govt. In addition, the farm forums announced plans for protests at the deputy commissioner offices across Punjab on May 2, demanding compensation for wheat crop losses due to unseasonal rainfall and fire incidents. They will also seek compensation for items lost during the demolition of protest sites.
Further action is scheduled for May 6, when farmers plan to hold a sit-in at the Shambhu police station, demanding action against the police officials involved in the alleged assault on the farmer unionist, Balwant Singh Behramke, and others on March 20.