The overwhelming response to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha’s (SKM) call for ‘Vishvasghat Diwas’ (Betrayal Day) dismissed all questions of whether the farmers’ movement had ended following the clearing of Delhi border protest sites.
On January 31, 2022, farmers across India marched together towards their local administrative office to submit the memorandum listing the various fronts on which the central government failed its peasantry.Addressed to President Ram Nath Kovind, the memorandum was submitted the day the Economic Survey 2021-22 was tabled and on the eve of the Union Budget 2022.
Speaking on the central and state governments betrayal, it said, “Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Secretary Sanjay Agarwal wrote a letter to the SKM on December 9, 2021, in which he gave assurances on behalf of the government on some issues and appealed to withdraw the movement. On the basis of this written assurance, we decided to suspend the morcha at Delhi borders and various other protests from December 11.”
However, more than a month since vacating the premises, leaders saw that the Centre had made no efforts to fulfil any of its assurances. In response to this, farmers across India observed Vishwasghat Diwas (Day of Betrayal) on Monday.
Listing each promise of the government, farmer leaders reminded that cases filed against farmers were to be withdrawn with immediate effect.
“Consent to withdraw the case has been given by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. … It is agreed by related departments and agencies of the Government of India to withdraw all the agitation related cases registered against the protesters and supporters in all the Union Territories including Delhi with immediate effect,” said the December document.
However, none of the stated governments moved to withdraw the cases. Instead, the SKM legal cell received news about court summons in these cases. Only the Haryana government completed some paperwork and issued orders to withdraw the case. This work is incomplete.
Similarly, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments had in-principle consented to compensate families of farmers who were martyred during the movement. Yet, both state governments failed to announce compensation or the nature of the compensation.
Another prominent promise was concerning Minimum Support Price (MSP). The government promised the formation of a committee that ensured MSP to farmers. Despite promises, this committee neither announced the formation of the committee, nor gave any information about the nature of the committee and its mandate.
In the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre case, they reiterated the need to suspend Minister of State Ajay Mishra especially after the SIT report affirming the charge of pre-planned conspiracy.
“On the other hand, the Uttar Pradesh Police is active in implicating and arresting the farmers accused in this incident,” said the SKM.
Moreover, farmers accused the government of furthering their “anti-farmer agenda” through negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with Australia that threatened the existence of dairy farmers. Similarly, amendments to the Biological Diversity Act 2002 is an invitation to biopiracy of the farmers’ wealth.
“GM [Genetically-modified] food is being allowed through backdoor entry by making new regulations governing the FSSAI. Efforts are being made to cut down on the purchase of the crop with the new quality standard brought in by the FCI,” said the SKM.
In light of this, leaders appealed to Kovind to protect farmers who helped the country become self-sufficient in food grains through huge efforts despite the Covid-19 lockdown and economic slowdown.
Protests resume
By Monday evening, the SKM announced farmers will resume their agitation because the government reneged on its promises. Earlier in the day, lakhs of farmers demonstrated across India to show their solidarity with this decision.
In thousands of districts, farmers marched, burned effigies in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tripura among other states.
As per previous declarations, the SKM also announced the start of Mission Uttar Pradesh campaign across the state to “punish and defeat” BJP in state elections.
“The new phase of the Mission will be announced with a press conference on February 3,” said the SKM.
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