Amid crackdown on farmers, SKM, BKU (U) skip talks in Punjab-OxBig News Network

Water cannons being used on Congress workers during their protest against the Punjab government in Chandigarh on Friday, March 21, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Amid the crackdown on protesting farmers by Punjab Police, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) [BKU (U)] on Friday (March 21, 2025) declined to participate in the meeting called by the Punjab government.

Slamming the Aam Aadmi Party government for police action, the farmers’ bodies sought the creation of a conducive environment for talks while demanding the release of detained protesters.

The SKM also announced to postpone its proposed march to the Assembly on March 26.

The State government had invited the SKM and BKU (Ugrahan) for a meeting with Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Friday. The invitation had come ahead of the SKM’s call for a march on March 26.

BKU (Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said while the body favours dialogues, “the question arises whether having the meeting under these circumstances is right?”.

The SKM leaders also decided that they would not attend the meeting, saying the environment was not conducive for talks.

The meeting was attended by farmer leaders Darshan Pal, Harmit Singh Kadian, Raminder Singh Patiala, Ruldu Singh Mansa and Jangveer Singh Chauhan.

Walkout by Cong. MLAs

Earlier in the day, Congress legislators staged a walkout during Governor Gulab Chand Kataria’s address in protest against the alleged assault of an Army Colonel and the detention of farmers. Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa sought to draw attention his towards these issues. Other party MLAs rushed to the Well of the House and started raising slogans.