JALANDHAR: Even as farmers’ movement got its initial and biggest push from Punjab, it is Haryana’s leaders who have managed to “go viral”. Earlier, it was Gurnam Singh Charuni, who was most popular among Punjabi netizens and now it is Rakesh Tikait.
Charuni won immense praise from Punjabis for the courage he showed in leading from front on November 25 and 26, for clearing the blockades on national highway to reach Delhi and also for owning up actions of farmers, when in the second week of January they ransacked a stage where Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar was to address a function in Karnal district.
It was Charuni’s popularity among Punjabi netizens that made Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders to quickly back off after giving notice to Charuni over a meeting he held with political leaders. Facing heat from Punjabi netizens on January 18, who were of the opinion that Charuni was being a victim of internal politics, the SKM quickly resolved the issue and issued a statement that things had settled.
Now, Tikait’s name is being chanted by every farmer — they praise him for his late night impassioned call on January 28, which gave a fillip to the movement even as the consequence of Republic Day incidents weighed heavy on the farmers.
On the other hand, a few leaders from Punjab are being criticised by Punjabi netizens after SKM leaders failed to do anything for the youths arrested in Delhi in connection with Republic Day incidents even as there were reports of several youths missing.
The SKM leaders also failed to show support to Navreet Singh’s family. The 24-year-old farmer from Uttar Pradesh was killed during tractor parade after his tractor hit a barricade and turned turtle. His grandfather Hardeep Singh Dibdiba had already gone on record that none from the SKM contacted him or others in the family for over three days.