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04 Background
of Farmers Unions. Bharti Kisan Union Mann.
I first read the news about Bhupinder Singh Mann
in 1972. They came from Pakistan and settled in
Batala. His first efforts in the vicinity of
Batala were related to the price of sugarcane. Perhaps it was only after the Chandigarh gathering that he formed a partnership with Ajmer Singh Lakhowal and Balbir Singh Rajewal. Also mentioned two trio at that time. There was one. (ਸਿਖ ਜਗਤ ਦੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਪਖੰਡੀ। ਬਦਲ ਟੌਹੜਾ ਤੇ ਤਲਵੰਡੀ।) Three hypocrites of the Sikh world, Badal Tohra and Talwandi. The second was: (ਤਿੰਨ ਯੂਨੀਅਨਾਂ, ਤਿੰਨ ਕਿਸਾਨ। ਲਖੋਵਾਲ ਰਾਜੇਵਾਲ ਤੇ ਭੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਮਾਨ)। The three unions, only three farmers, Lakhowal Rajowal and Bhupinder Mann. That is to say, they call themselves Kisan Unions even though they are alone.
S. Joginder Singh Ugrahan was probably
later associated. But the trio did not last
long. Badal Sahib made Lakhowal the president of
Kisan Union without the consent of the other
two. Rajowal and Mann Sahib became separate
farmers' unions. It was the first foot. But
today 34-35 farmers unions have been formed.
Clearly, it is a lucrative business.
Lakhowal Sahib first claimed to be a non-party
Kisan Union. But when the election took place,
Lakhowal Sahib announced his union's support for
Badal Sahib. As soon as the government was
formed, Lakhowal Sahib was made chairman of the
Mandi Board. He remained there for ten
years. The Mandi Board has an annual income of
Rs 3,400 crore per year. God knows whether Lakhowal
Sahib put this amount in his right pocket or in
his left pocket. That is, what was given to the
elder son and what was given to the younger son.
But it is clear that their children have big
business in Punjab, USA and Canada.
Bhupinder Singh Mann started agitation for free
word trade of food grains, specifically of wheat. In collaboration with Mahinder Singh Tikait, a gathering of about two
lakh farmers besieged the Punjab Governor for
seven days and nights. The duo staged a dharna
at Bagha border with about Rs 2 lakh kisans of
Punjab. They
demanded that India be a federal state. The
state has a constitutional right to sell its
food grains in Pakistan and Arab countries and
to import seeds fertilizers etc. from abroad. We will cross
the border with wheat. At that time, the central
government had to pay a minimum support price to
Punjab.
Later Mann joined the Congress. Captain Sahib
started fighting for CM post. In the 2002 Vidhan Sabha,
Mann
openly supported Captain Sahib. When Captain
Sahib betrayed the faith in river waters through
Article 5 by bringing a resolution in the Vidhan
Sabha in 2004, Mann Sahib paid homage to him.
Mann
became the president of Kisan Union in 1980. He
was nominated a member of Rajya Sabha in 1990
during the Emergency. Due to his closeness to
Captain Sahib, he received many honors. He was
also the Chairman of the Power Board and became
the Chairman of the Kisan Coordination of Indian
Farmers' Organization. Now he is living in
Delhi. But he did not feel any contribution in
any of the struggles of the Punjab. |