To mark the completion of nine months of their agitation and to evolve future strategies, as many as 1,500 representatives of farm unions from across the country will assemble to discuss future course of action for the ongoing farmers’ protest during the national convention on August 26 and 27. While the Singhu border will be the central point of the national convention, gatherings will be organised in different parts of the country parallely.
“Unlike our other events, the national convention is not going to be a mass gathering or a rally. Instead, 1,500 representatives of farmer unions from across the country will come together for two days at the Singhu border to discuss strategies to sharpen and intensify our protests,” farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said.
He added that the convention was aimed at bringing together farmers from across the country, so that everybody could be part of the decision making on how the protest was to be taken forward. “We have been protesting for nine months. It is not a short span of time. We want to include everybody, and representatives of farmer organisations from east, west, south and north… everybody will be here,” Kohar added.
According to the farmers leaders, the visiting representatives from different states, including Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, will be provided accommodation at the Singhu border itself.
One of the major issues that will be up for discussion at the convention will be the farmers’ upcoming ‘mahapanchayat’ in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar on September 5. “Our next strategy is the Muzaffarnagar ‘mahapanchayat’ on September 5, which will also be discussed at the convention. Preparations for the ‘mahapanchayat’ are in full swing. I know that at least 5,000 vehicles will be travelling to Muzaffarnagar,” Kohar said.
On August 26, the farmers’ protest against the three contentious laws will complete nine months since they first arrived at the Delhi borders. The farmers have been demanding the repeal of the three laws, which they are afraid will do away with the MSP system leaving them at the mercy of big corporations.
In Chandigarh, farmer leader Paramjit Singh said about 2,000-2,5000 people are expected to come together to discuss the “issues that have been impacting the farmers as well as the common man”.