Unions firming up plan to reignite farmer agitation

Following a crackdown by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, two factions of the Bhartiya Kisan Unions — Ekta Ugrahan and Sidhupur — are trying to revive the farmer's movement, making Bathinda a hotbed of their activities.

- Vishal Joshi

BATHINDA:

Ever since the farmers were evicted from Shamhu and Khanauri border points in March, Ekta Ugrahan and Sidhupur have taken up causes like opposing a sewage pipeline, resisting land consolidation work, and demanding justice in the death of a suspected drug peddler allegedly in police custody.

Being a traditional hotbed for farmers' movements, the authorities have, so far, shown patience and tact in handling the union activists.

Ekta Ugrahan achieved success on Tuesday when the Bathinda district authorities accepted their demand to reinstate around 61 teachers and eight class 4 staffers of Adarsh Senior Secondary School, run under public-private participation (PPP) mode, at Chauke, who were dismissed this year on disciplinary and administrative grounds. State vice president Jhanda Singh Jethuke said: "BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) extended its full support by launching an agitation since February against the maladministration of the school management team. The authorities are still delaying taking back two teachers but the protest will end against the district administration only after the demands are met."