Tag: SKM

Security beefed up after SKM announces nationwide protests in support of wrestlers

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New Delhi: Security was beefed up at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Sunday after Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) announced that it will hold nationwide protests including in Delhi in support of the protesting grapplers.
Wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for over 10 days demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh and his sacking from the post in the light of allegations of sexual harassment by the wrestlers.
According to an SKM statement on Saturday, on May 7, several leaders of the organisation from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh will visit the protest site at Jantar Mantar and extend support to the protesting wrestlers.

Notably, SKM had spearheaded the year-long farmers’ protest on the borders of the national capital against the now-repealed farm laws.
On Friday, Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij extended his support to the protesting wrestlers near Jantar Mantar.
Speaking to ANI, the Haryana Home minister said he had complete sympathy and support for the protesting wrestlers.
He even assured the grapplers that he was willing to mediate and hold talks with the government on their behalf.
“This entire matter is now being addressed at the highest level. Since I have also been a sports minister, my sympathies and support are with the protesting wrestlers. If they want me to meditate and talk to the government, I am willing to do so,” Vij said.

Moreover, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday said the Delhi Police was conducting an unbiased investigation against the wrestling federation chief and were working to meet the demands of the protesting grapplers.
“A demand had been put forward to form a committee and a panel was constituted. Two FIRs have also been registered by Delhi Police and Supreme Court also gave its verdict. Delhi Police is conducting a fair investigation,” the Union Minister said.
The Union Minister said that free and fair elections of the Wrestling Federation of India have been taken into consideration and that the Indian Olympic Association is working towards it.
On Wednesday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha met the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar.
On April 23, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Mallik returned to the protest site at Jantar Mantar, claiming that six women wrestlers, and a minor, filed a sexual harassment complaint against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at Connaught Place Police Station but Delhi Police did not register an FIR. The protesting grapplers also demanded that the Sports Ministry make the findings of the Oversight Committee public.
Delhi Police filed two FIRs on April 28 following the notice by the Supreme Court.
Earlier this year, prominent wrestlers came forward to lead a protest against the WFI chief, following which the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the formation of an ‘oversight committee’ to probe allegations against the WFI, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and some coaches.
The protesting wrestlers have made it clear that they won’t move until they get justice and Brij Bhushan is removed as the WFI chief and put behind bars.
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#Security #beefed #SKM #announces #nationwide #protests #support #wrestlers
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 7, 2023
Lakhs of farmers headed to Delhi for ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ on Monday: SKM

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New Delhi: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday said lakhs of farmers from across the country are on their way to Delhi to participate in the ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ that will be held at Ramlila Maidan on March 20.
The ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ will be held to press for a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP), the SKM, an umbrella body of farmers’ union, had said last month.
Lakhs of farmers from various states and union territories are headed to Delhi to attend the ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ in Delhi on March 20, the SKM said in a statement.
Addressing a press conference here, SKM leader Darshan Pal said, “The Centre must fulfil the assurances it gave to us in writing on December 9, 2021 and also take effective steps to mitigate the ever-increasing crisis faced by farmers.”
The SKM spearheaded an over a year-long agitation against the Centre’s now-repealed farm laws. It suspended the movement in December 2021 following a government assurance to consider the farmers’ pending demands, including the withdrawal of cases lodged against farmers during the agitation and a legal guarantee for MSP.
The SKM has also urged the centre to dissolve the committee on MSP that was constituted by the Centre, alleging that it is contrary to the demands of the farmers.
Farmers’ demands also include pension, debt waiver, compensation for those who died during the farmers’ stir and withdrawal of the Electricity Bill.
“The Electricity Amendment Bill, 2022 referred to the JPC should be withdrawn. The Centre had given a written assurance that the bill will be introduced in Parliament only after discussion with the SKM but despite this, it introduced the bill,” the SKM statement said.

It also reiterated the demand for free power for agricultural purposes and 300 units for rural households.
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#Lakhs #farmers #headed #Delhi #kisan #mahapanchayat #Monday #SKM
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 19, 2023
Lakhimpur Kheri: SKM expresses shock at Ashish Mishra’s bail

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New Delhi: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Wednesday expressed shock at the eight-week interim bail granted to Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra’s son Ashish in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence which claimed eight lives, and said he could “divert” and “pervert” the course of justice.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and J K Maheshwari directed that Ashish shall not stay in Uttar Pradesh or Delhi during the interim bail period.
“Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) expresses shock and dismay at the order of interim bail of eight weeks granted to Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, who killed four farmers and one journalist in broad daylight by running them over with his vehicle at Lakhimpur Kheri of Uttar Pradesh,” the framers’ body said in a statement.
“It is little consolation that the order stipulates that Mishra has to leave UP within one week of his release and he cannot stay in UP or NCT of Delhi,” it said.
The SKM said Ashish Mishra is a powerful politician affiliated to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and “his release will greatly intimidate witnesses and jeopardise the trial”.
“It may be kept in mind that the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government was soft pedalling the arrest and charging of Ashish Mishra and ultimately the Supreme Court had to order independent investigation and action. It can only be imagined how Mishra on-the-loose will divert and pervert the course of justice,” it said.
The farmers’ body said it had demanded swift punishment of culprits of Lakhimpur Kheri and removal of Ajay Mishra Teni from the Cabinet, but they have remained “unfulfilled”.
“SKM will keep vigil to ensure that Ajay Mishra does not start another reign of terror and humbly submits that the Supreme Court should revoke the interim bail and in any event, not extend it any further. Ashish Mishra and his father Ajay Mishra are a threat to society and they cannot be allowed to play havoc in society,” they said.

The SKM said it was happy to note that innocent farmers who were languishing in jail on account of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident have been given interim bail.
“SKM demands grant of permanent bail to the farmers and withdrawal of fake cases against them,” it said.
On October 3, 2021, eight people were killed in Lakhimpur Kheri district’s Tikunia where violence erupted when farmers were protesting against the then deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to the area.
According to the Uttar Pradesh Police’s FIR in the case, four farmers were mowed down by an SUV in which Ashish was seated.
Following the incident, the driver of the SUV and two BJP workers were allegedly lynched by angry farmers. A journalist also died in the violence.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had on July 26 last year rejected Ashish Mishra’s bail plea. He had challenged the high court’s order in the apex court.
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#Lakhimpur #Kheri #SKM #expresses #shock #Ashish #Mishras #bail
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 25, 2023