Sukhpal Khaira, Pirmal Singh Dhaula, Manvinder Singh Giaspura, and Rashpal Singh Jora at the press conference in Chandigarh.
Human rights activists and politicians demand judicial probe to investigate recent incidents of Kisan Morcha
Harshabab Sidhu
Chandigarh, February 22, 2021:
The human rights activists and the political leaders led by Sukhpal Khaira, president of Punjab Ekta Party demanded that a judicial commission should be formed by the Supreme Court to investigate the sequence of events of Kisan Morcha since republic day.
Addressing a press conference here, Khaira said he and other political leaders have formed a committee today to fight for the justice of agitating farmers. Advocate RS Bains, Pirmal Singh Dhaula, MLA Bhadaur, Manvinder Singh Giaspura, and Rashpal Jauramajra were also present at the press conference.
He announced, "After meeting with human rights activists, we have formed an informal committee to deal with on-going propaganda of BJP government against the agitating farmers. The committee will work for providing justice to the farmers, who have been arrested and charged in criminal cases by the Delhi police." He also said the committee members will meet Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) members to hold a dialogue on the current situation and problems of farmers. “The motive of forming the committee is to appeal all the politicians to work jointly for the farmers instead of holding demonstrations in various parts of the state. With this, a strong message can be conveyed to the Delhi government. Now, it is our responsibility to provide justice to the jailed farmers,” said Khaira.
He said the commission should be formed at the earliest to conduct a detailed probe on the sequence of events - republic day violence, death of Navreet Singh, attacks of RSS goons on the protesters, missing farmers, etc.
The leaders stated that the BJP government and their sponsored Godi media have unleashed a vicious campaign against the youth of Punjab and the farmer leadership particularly after the 26th January incidents, by labeling them as anti-national, Khalistani’s, terrorists, etc. for indulging in violence at the Red Fort. They said it was the Delhi police at the behest of BJP that indulged in violence by killing Navreet Singh at ITO crossing, by brutally lathi charging defenseless farmers, by damaging their tractors, etc. They said almost 19 youth and farmers have gone missing since then and over 200 have been arrested under serious charges and jailed. They added even after Navreet's death, the police did not lodge any DDR or FIR in that connection.
The leaders said that no disrespect was done to the tricolor at Red Fort that day and the youth in the heat of moment unfurled a Nishan Sahib and a farmer flag atop two empty positions. The leaders said that it was merely a symbolic protest and no case of major violence was reported. No policemen were killed, there was no damage to public property, rioting, etc. They questioned the Godi media and the government whether symbols/flags hold more importance in our democracy or the sentiments of lakhs of farmers seeking justice and their lives? They alleged that Delhi police barricaded the original tractor parade routes and motivated youth towards Red Fort under a pre-planned conspiracy. They said protesting is a fundamental right granted to people by India's constitution, which is being portrayed as hooliganism by the government-sponsored media.
“The state-sponsored Delhi police are falsely implicating the farmers in the sedition cases. They have even registered cases against those who had followed the given route map of the tractor march. They are still issuing notices to innocent farmers and arresting them to spread fear among their families,” said Khaira.
Khaira said their committee will fight for missing farmers' justice, who the Delhi police have tortured. He demanded that the criminal cases be registered against the RSS goons, who organized attacks on the peaceful protesters at the Singhu border.
Khaira added, “The farmer unions should bear the losses of tractor-trolleys of farmers during the republic day tractor march.