“To launch a farmers’ agitation across India”- Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR)
Highlights By: Balbir Singh Sooch-Sikh Vichar Manch“We are with you in this struggle,” he said, while reminding Punjab farmers that they were referred to as terrorists and Khalistanis by the BJP leaders. He also openly challenged the decision of the Centre, asking for prepaid smart meters be put up for agriculture consumers. This has also been a simmering issue in Punjab.
2. The political message is clear behind the getting together of three non-BJP Chief Ministers-- Telangana’s K Chandrashekhar Rao, Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann- on a common platform here to honour two segments of the society - martyred farmers of the year-long farmers struggle and the martyrs of Galwan Valley.
3. Farmers can change governments, says Telangana CM KC Rao; joins hands withKejriwal,Bhagwant Mann to challenge BJP
4. Not only did K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) tell the gathering of families of martyred farmers and
soldiers here this afternoon to launch a farmers’ agitation across India
5. Farmers can change governments, says Telangana CM KC Rao; joins hands
with Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann to challenge BJP https://www.tribuneindia.com/
rao-gives-
Farmers can change governments, says Telangana CM KC Rao; joins hands with Kejriwal, Bhagwant
Mann to challenge BJP
Telangana CM KC Rao distributes Rs 3 lakh as financial assistance to the kin of the farmers, who died
during the stir against the Centre's three farm laws: By: Ruchika M. Khanna: Updated At: May 22,
2022 08:06 PM (IST): Tribune News Service, Chandigarh
The political message is clear behind the getting together of three non-BJP Chief Ministers-- Telangana’s
K Chandrashekhar Rao, Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann- on a common platform
here to honour two segments of the society - martyred farmers of the year-long farmers struggle and
the martyrs of Galwan Valley.
Not only is this “union-in-works” challenging the political might of the ruling BJP at the Centre, but
also seeks to cater to the aspirations of two major “politically sensitive” segments. Since “nationalism”
has been a majority political plank of the BJP, these non- BJP CMs today chose to woo these two
segments that resonate with the “nationalism agenda”.
Not only did K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) tell the gathering of families of martyred farmers and
soldiers here this afternoon to launch a farmers’ agitation across India, demanding a constitutional
guarantee for MSP of all their crops, but slogans against BJP were also raised at the event, as the three
Chief Ministers looked on. Rao told farmers that if they unitedly fought against the “dictatorial policies
of Delhi sarkar (referring to Centre)” they could overthrow the Delhi government.
“We are with you in this struggle,” he said, while reminding Punjab farmers that they were referred to
as terrorists and Khalistanis by the BJP leaders. He also openly challenged the decision of the Centre,
asking for prepaid smart meters be put up for agriculture consumers. This has also been a simmering
issue in Punjab.
Earlier in the day, Rao and Kejriwal held meeting in Delhi “to discuss federal spirit and national politics”,
said a message circulated from the office of the Telangana CM. At the event here today, Kejriwal too
played along with Rao and said that since the farmers were protesting on the borders of Delhi, his
government was under immense pressure from the Centre to convert stadiums to jails, and send the
protesting farmers there. “But we withstood this pressure to side with you,” he told the farmers.
Sources say that this initiative by Telangana’s KCR and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal
happens to be just ahead of the elections for the President of India. AAP does not have any Lok Sabha
members (since Bhagwant Mann resigned, after becoming CM of Punjab), but has eight members in
the Upper House and two more are to be elected now, taking the total rally of AAP to 10. Rao, say
sources in AAP, is believed to be trying to build a national consensus on a non-BJP and non-Congress
alternative for the President polls due in July, and also for the 2024 general elections. He is presently
visiting non-BJP and non-Congress ruled states.
Together, Rao, Kejriwal and Mann later distributed cheques of Rs 3 lakh each to families of martyred f
armers and Rs 10 lakh each to families of Galwan Valley martyrs. As many as 543 Punjab based and
150 Haryana based families of martyred farmers and four families of Galwan martyrs, had been
identified to be given relief by the Telangana government. Since the three CMs arrived more than two
hours behind the scheduled time, only one family from each district was called on stage, while the
others were asked to collect their cheques from the nodal officer. It may be mentioned that Punjab
Government has already given cheques of Rs 5 lakh to each of the families of martyred farmers and
Rs 50 lakh to the families of martyred soldiers, besides a job for next of kin.
Speaking on the occasion, KCR thanked his “friends Arvind Kejriwal and farmer leader Rakesh Tikait”
for joining him in extending some relief to the families. “It is a sad occasion. It’s a shame that even
after seven decades of Independence, we have to have such events. There should be a national debate
on where the problem lies. We are here only to express our sympathy with bereaved families, and
tell them that we stand with them in their hour of need. I had spoken to Kejriwal when his party won
elections in Punjab. He agreed to come here with me for this event,” he said.
“The year long struggle was the biggest ever resistance against the tyranny of the Centre:
Both Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Delhi CM Kejriwal, were met with a resounding applause when
they got up to address the gathering. Mann told the farmers that his government would always
stand by farmers. “The year long struggle was the biggest ever resistance against the tyranny of the
Centre. But you braved all weathers and did not budge till your demands were met. Now that you
have voted for us, I am striving to make you “karza mukt”, more important that “karza maafi”, he
said, in an apparent jibe at the previous Congress government’s debt relief scheme.
Kejriwal said that though no price can be given for the immense struggle of farmers. “But please accept
this to honour for their sacrifice. Now, our party is doing all within its powers to increase the income
of farmers. Punjab government has announced to purchase moong on MSP and announced financial
relief of Rs 1500 per acre for those going in for DSR. We will continue to take such farmer friendly
decisions and establish a farming model here. Kisan ka beta Kisan nahin banna chahta kyonki kisani
fayda ka kaam nahin hai. I assure you that we will show how to make agriculture profitable, and
change this trend,” he said.
Rao also lauded the contribution of Punjab to the freedom struggle and bringing green revolution in
the farming sector. "Punjab is a great state," said Rao.
Rao was accompanied by his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister
Bhagwant Mann.
Rao was here to distribute Rs 3 lakh as financial assistance to the kin of the farmers, who died during
the stir against the Centre's three farm laws.
Over 700 farmers had died during the course of the agitation at the Delhi borders due to various reasons, including harsh winter, road accidents, cardiac arrest and ailments. https://www.tribuneindia.com/
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