BKU Charuni charts nationwide farmers’ movement, calls for March 23 Pipli rally against ‘corporate control’

KURUKSHETRA: The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Charuni concluded its two-day national seminar at Jaat Dharamshala in Kurukshetra, focusing on key farmer-related issues, organisational expansion and the union’s future course of action. Following the seminar, BKU Charuni national president Gurnam Singh Charuni addressed a press conference and shared details of the major resolutions adopted during the deliberations.

Charuni said the seminar received full support from all district committees. He said it was decided to intensify preparations for the farmers’ rally scheduled at Pipli, Kurukshetra, on March 23, 2026, to mark Shaheed Bhagat Singh’s Martyrdom Day. To strengthen mobilisation, state-level meetings will be organised in western Uttar Pradesh, the Terai region, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, while district presidents will hold meetings in their respective areas.

Explaining the objective of the March 23 rally, Charuni said Bhagat Singh laid down his life for equality and justice, not for the country to be ruled by capitalists. “Not a single capitalist attained martyrdom during the freedom struggle. Even after Independence, no son of a capitalist has sacrificed his life to protect the nation’s borders, despite several wars. Today, the entire system has been captured by corporates,” he alleged.

Charuni further claimed that over the past 11 years, loans amounting to Rs 16.50 lakh crore taken by big corporates had been waived off, while debt-ridden farmers continued to suffer, with many driven to suicide due to non-waiver of their loans.

“The dream envisioned by Bhagat Singh remains unfulfilled. We snatched power from the ‘Gore Angrez’ only to hand it over to the ‘Kaale Angrez’. Money has turned into power and power into money. Today, just nine individuals possess wealth equal to that of nearly 55 crore people. The poor are becoming poorer, while the rich continue to get richer,” he said. He said the working class is divided while the capitalists are united.

Charuni also flagged the alleged multi-crore paddy scam in Haryana and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter. He said the March 23 rally would raise a strong voice against the prevailing corrupt system.

He said the seminar resolved to hold monthly block-level meetings to strengthen organisational reforms and expand the union’s base. Discussions were also held on addressing farmers’ issues at national and international levels. In this regard, a meeting would be organised in New Delhi in February, with participation from other farmer organisations.

Charuni reiterated that farmers’ produce should not be sold below the government-declared minimum support price (MSP). He accused the government of suppressing farmers through cheaper and unrestricted imports. “Imports should be limited and linked to domestic production. The price of imported crops should not be lower than the cost of production and MSP of the same crop in India,” he said.

He further alleged that the government increases export taxes on basmati rice when international prices rise, adversely affecting farmers. Emphasising the need to protect Indian farmers, Charuni said the Government of India should exit the World Trade Organization (WTO). He added that a nationwide plan would be formulated to intensify the struggle for farmers’ rights.

Charuni said the seminar was attended by farmer leaders from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab.