Police action delays SKM-guv meeting

Bathinda: The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has declined a May 19 meeting with the Punjab governor, requesting a postponement after several farm unionists were hospitalised following recent clashes with police.The forum of farmer unions has asked to reschedule the talks for any date after May 22, citing the health of key office-bearers, including Balbir Singh Rajewal. Several unionists remain under medical observation after Chandigarh cops deployed water cannons and tear gas against protesting farmers on May 15.The governor's aide-de-camp (ADC) had on May 16 invited a 35-member SKM delegation to an hour-long meeting at the Raj Bhavan. The invitation followed widespread protests where farmer unions had burned effigies of the governor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bigwigs.SKM functionaries Raminder Singh and Harinder Singh Lakhowal said they had received the invitation on May 17. Lakhowal claimed in a statement that: "We have requested the governor's office to defer the talks because several of our members are still recovering from the May 15 police action, and we have an internal strategy meeting coming up on May 21."The forum wants to determine its next way of political opposition to the BJP before it presents a series of Punjab-centric demands to the governor. Key items on its agenda include securing proper representation for Punjab on the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and resolving long-standing inter-state water disputes based on riparian principles. MSID:: 131173858 413 |