Tribune News Service

Mansa, August 23

Hardening their stance over the ongoing farm agitation, residents of villages in the Malwa region have started banning entry of political parties and leaders ahead of the Assembly elections.

Notably, farm unions have already banned the entry of BJP leaders in many villages in the region. But now, residents of Kulrian, Bhawa and Heron Khurd villages in Mansa district have passed resolutions to boycott entry of leaders of all parties. The farm unions under its umbrella organisation Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) had allowed entry of leaders from parties except the BJP on the condition that they would be subjected to questioning on issues related to farming, drugs, education and health, among others.

Mahinder Singh and Naib Singh from Kulrian village in Mansa district said, “Political parties are trying to shift people’s attention from the agitation to weaken the movement but we will not let that happen. We have decided to ban entry of all political parties. We want to strengthen the farm agitation and it’s possible only by staying apolitical and focusing on the genuine cause of farming. Those not adhering to these guidelines will be dealt with strictly.”

Jas Singh from Bhawa village said, “Both Akali Dal and Congress have ruled for 10 years each in the past two decades but issues concerning farmers, Dalits and common man have remained unaddressed till now.”

Balkaran Singh Brar, state president of the Kul Hind Kisan Sabha and leader of the SKM, said, “Political parties view the agitation as a formidable force that will alter the poll outcome. Now they have started seeing it as a threat to their political ambitions and therefore want to divert attention of people from issues concerning the farm community to weaken the stir. But we will stand resolutely against them.”