Farmer leaders sent a proposal to the central government with the offer of having a meeting on December 29, 2020 in an effort to end the stalemate between the government and peasants.
Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav, who read the proposal letter to the media during a press conference on December 26, said farmer leaders called for a meeting on Tuesday at 11 AM with an aim to repeal the three anti-farmer-dubbed laws, amend the Electricity Bill 2020 and discuss farmers policies as well as Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement among other things.
The full letter may be read here:
Further, leaders warned that failing to reach a consensus during the meeting, farmers will call for a tractor march on December 30 that shall cover the Singhu border, the Tikri border and the Shahjahanpur border. The move could result in a huge traffic jam across national highways.
While leaders gave this call, protesters celebrated the one-month-long farmers’ sit-in Delhi with over 7,000 protest programs to commemorate “Dhikkar Diwas” on Sunday.
People condemned the government’s attitude towards the demand for repeal of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance & Farm Services Act, the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.
According to the Working Group of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), campaigns for boycott of Ambani and Adani products and services were also launched all over the country.
Moreover, the Group slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ‘spending more than Rs 500 crores in propaganda of his pro-farmer measures.”
“While turning a blind eye to the demand of farmers, the government has allotted Rs. 1 lakh crore to help private investments in agriculture while farmers have been demanding government investments in irrigation, supply of machinery, improvement of mandis, input subsidies, MSP, procurement,” they said.
The organisation alleged that all farmer welfare schemes are riddled with corruption and high non-performance. As an example, the Group talked about the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana as a surreptitious scheme for transfer of farmers contribution and government farmer funds to district-wise allocated insurance companies having provided captive premium markets to earn. They earned Rs 25,00 crores in 2017-18 and up to Rs 10,000 later, said the Working Group.
Regarding the Gujarat Model of Development for farmers, the organisation referred to National Sample Survey reports from 2001 to 2011 that said 3.55 lakh land owning farmers went missing in Gujarat and also registered a rise of 17 lakh agriculture workers in the state.
“These were analysed to be due to Corporate farming for Exports. Gujarat reels under irrigation shortage with Narmada Dam water being transferred to Industry and Sabarmati River Water Front. Nine farmers were sued by Pepsico for Rs 1 crore, for using their patented potato seed,” they said.
Related:
AIKS calls out the Centre’s ignorance about the agri sector
Haryana farmers receive help from toll plaza workers who open gates
Farmer leaders call for Dec 26 as ‘Dhikkar Diwas’ & a corporate boycott
Boycott Ambani-Adani products, ‘Thali Bajao’ on December 27 during PM Modi’s Mann Ki Baat.
Rajasthan julloos at par with Delhi protests! Farmers observe relay fast
Karnataka farmers stand steadfastly with protesting Delhi farmers, will reach Delhi border on Dec 25
Are the new farm laws constitutional?