Supporters of VM Singh stay put at Ghazipur, say ‘outside groups’ trying to divide and rule

Around 500 to 600 farmers from parts of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Uttarakhand, who are associated with Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangh, have been participating in the protest at the Ghazipur border since December 3. Prior to that, they were protesting at the Burari ground.

A day after farmer leader Sardar VM Singh expressed his dissatisfaction with the ongoing agitation, triggering a deluge of criticism from other protesters, members and supporters of his organisation, the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangh, assembled at the Ghazipur border on Monday and alleged that some “outside groups”, at behest of the Centre, have been trying to divide protesting farmers. They asserted that they will continue to participate in the ongoing agitation.

Farmers congregate during one-day hunger strike as a mark of protest against the new farm laws, at Ghazipur (Delhi-UP border) on Monday. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

Singh on Sunday told HT that the agitation was “not going right” and farmer unions should not make scrapping of the laws a precondition for talks with the government or shut the door on negotiations.

Several leaders of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), a platform leading the protests, dissociated themselves from Singh’s comments. The national working committee of the AIKSCC on Monday removed VM Singh as its convener.

Around 500 to 600 farmers from parts of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Uttarakhand, who are associated with Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangh, have been participating in the protest at the Ghazipur border since December 3. Prior to that, they were protesting at the Burari ground.

Tarun Chawdhary, a farmer from Hapur and a member of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangh, said, “There are people who are working for the government and trying to play the divide and rule game. Some of them are sitting here among us. Whatever VM Singh said was wrongly interpreted. He has been fighting for the rights of farmers for years. It’s because of him that we, sugarcane farmers, have managed to survive in UP over these years.”

On Monday, several posters and banners of VM Singh and his party were spotted at the protest site. There were around 20-24 trucks and trolleys of his supporters parked on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, where farmers have been protesting since November 26. Kulwinder Singh, another farmer from Pilibhit in UP, said, “There have been rumors on social media about VM Singh and his supporters opting out of the protests. But they are all wrong. We have two demands --- complete repeal of new farm laws and a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP). We will not go anywhere till the government accepts these demands.”

VM Singh had said the farmer unions had “shifted goalposts”. “Our initial demand was about legislating a private member’s bill in Parliament to guarantee MSP...If the government brings a law to guarantee MSP, then farmers shouldn’t care about whether Adani or Ambani is buying (produce),” he said.

Sardar Jagdeep Singh, a farmer from Saharanpur and a supporter of VM Singh, said, “Our leader knows much more about laws than any other person protesting here. Some of the protesting groups are trying to sideline him. But we will stay put and continue our protest.”