Deciding to restart the agitation demanding the implementation of the agreement dated 9th December 2021 between the Union Government and SKM, it said, “Intensifying direct struggles of farmers and farmworkers and also joint struggles with the organised and unorganised workers is the need of the hour in order to bring relief to the people who are facing severe miseries and widespread indebtedness, unemployment and price rise.”

Those attending the meeting included Dr Ashok Dhawale, Dr Darshan Pal, Yudhvir Singh, Balbeer Singh Rajewal, Revula Venkaiah,  Medha Patkar, Satyawan, Ruldu Singh Mansa, Dr Sunilam, Avik Saha, Dr Ashish Mittal, Tajinder Singh Virk, Kanwarjit Singhand Hannan Mollah.  143 delegates from 17 states took part.

It was held against the backdrop of victory of farmer leaders Amraram from Sikar, Rajasthan; Rajaram Singh from Karakat, Bihar; Sudama Prasad from Arrah, Bihar and R Sachithanantham from Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, in the Lok Sabha polls.

“As part of restarting the struggle, the SKM will submit the updated demand charter to all Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha). A delegation of the respective SKM state leadership will directly meet them on 16, 17, 18 July 2024 and request them to put pressure on the NDA Govt to immediately take action on the demands. SKM leadership will seek an appointment with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and submit the memorandum of demands to them”, it declared.

The 9th December 2021 agreement covers the demands of ensuring legally guaranteed MSP@ C2+50% with procurement for all crops, no to privatisation of the power sector and prepaid smart meters, compensation to all the families of martyrs who died during the historic farmers struggle, withdrawal of all the cases related to the farmers agitation, and freeing farmers from criminal liability by amending the act on pollution control due to stubble burning.

“The general body meeting strongly condemned the anti-farmer Govt of NDA for violating the agreement made after the supreme sacrifice of 736 martyrs and sufferings of lakhs of farmers who participated for 384 days — 26th November 2020 to 11th December 2021 — of consistent and militant struggle at the Delhi borders”, the statement said.

Revealing its agitation plan, SKM said, “On 9th August 2024, SKM shall observe Quit India Day as Corporates Quit India Day by holding protest demonstrations across the country in support of the demand charter. The demand that India must come out of WTO and No MNCs in agricultural production and trade will be popularised among the farmers.”

Then, “On 17th August 2024 the SKM Punjab unit will observe ‘3 hours protest at the homes of all ministers including the Chief Minister of Punjab’ regarding the demands of Punjab, including the severe water crisis, burden of debt, opening India-Pakistan trade through road corridors and federal demands of Punjab against the policy of centralisation of power and resources by the Modi-led NDA government.”

“On the same day SKM will organise large seminars in all the states on the issue of water crisis and climate change affecting agriculture and against the commodification of natural resources including water, land, forest and minerals”, SKM added.

As part of restarting the struggle, the SKM will submit the updated demand charter to all Members of Parliament

It further said, in view of the upcoming Assembly elections, the State coordination committees of Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir will convene their meetings and ensure an independent and massive campaign among the farmers based on the SKM’s demands to expose, oppose and punish BJP in the forthcoming assembly elections.

“The State units also will explore coordination with trade unions and other mass and class organisations, and hold Vehicle Jathas, Padayatras and Mahapanchayats”, it added.

SKM’s demands include:

1. Legally guaranteed MSP@C2+50% with guaranteed procurement for all crops.
2. Comprehensive loan waiver to free farmers and agricultural workers from indebtedness and end farm suicides.
3. No privatisation of power sector, no prepaid smart meters.
4. Comprehensive insurance coverage to all crops and animal husbandry under the Public Sector, scrapping of the anti-farmer and pro-corporate PMFBY Scheme.
5. Pension of Rs.10,000 (ten thousand) per month to all farmers and agricultural workers.
6. Implementing Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013, revised circle rate of land every alternative year across India, providing due compensation to all those who lost land due to illegal acquisition for projects by the public as well as private sector and stopping acquisition without rehabilitation and resettlement; ending Bulldozer Raj of demolition of slums and settlements without prior rehabilitation.
7. No corporatisation of agriculture, No MNC’s in agricultural production and trade, bringing India out of WTO agreement on agriculture.
8. No GST on agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, electricity, irrigation, petroleum products, machineries and tractors.
9. Amending the GST Act to ensure the State Governments’ right to taxation as per the federal principles enshrined in the Constitution of India with the principle of strong States and strong Union of India.
10. Introducing separate Union Budget for Agriculture with adequate share of GDP.
11. Abolition of the Department of Cooperation in the Union Government, and keeping Cooperation as a State Subject as enshrined in the Constitution of India. The Union Government has to support the States instead of promoting centralisation of power for the interest of the corporate class at the cost of the producing classes — farmers and workers.
12. Ensuring permanent solution for wildlife menace; provide Rs 1 crore compensation for loss of life and adequate compensation for loss of crops and cattle.
13. Providing compensation for all the families of martyrs of the historic farmers’ struggle including the martyrs of Lakhimpur Kheri.
14. Withdrawing all the cases related with the farmers’ struggle and building a suitable Martyrs Memorial at Singhu/Tikri Border to commemorate the 736 farmer martyrs.

Courtesy: CounterView

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In Karnataka, the show of strength and long-standing struggle at a Maha Dharani will be held in Bengaluru on 26, 27, 28 of November at Freedom Park. The mass sit-in is both against the Union Government and to pressurise the Karnataka Government to deliver on its commitments. Samyuktha Horata is a joint call by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) and Janashakthi to forge together a joint front of farmers, workers, Dalits, youth and women’s organisations, expanding the protest to other segments of the population – a historical moment of unity. Badagalapura Nagendra (SKM), H.R. Basavarajappa, Bayyareddy (Samyuktha Horata), Varalakshmi (JCTU) and Noor Sridhar (Janashakthi) lead this demonstration of deep dissatisfaction. Bayyareddi, Convenor of Samyuktha Horta stated, “We don’t have any expectations from Central government, they sold the toiling people’s interest to the Corporates….only way left is to remove them from the power…we are going to take a call on it in this struggle.” 

The Congress Party after coming to power in May this year has still to deliver on its campaign promises. The dissatisfaction with the Siddaramaiah and DK Shivkumar Government comes after several failed attempts to meet with and address the state government’s inaction. Kumar Samathala of Land & Housing Deprived People’s Struggle Committee said, ” Governments are changing, but our life is not. Even after Congress came to power there has been no change in attitude. They have not yet called for a proper sitting to discuss the issue.”

Organisers expect a growing swell of protesters to gather at Freedom Park over the three days. The mass protest expects to have 50,000 protestors at this three-day sit-in satyagraha. On November 26 – the day of ‘Sankalp’ – there will be a flag hoisting at 8AM by representatives from a cross section – of farmers, workers, women, Dalit, adivasis, etc. Approximately 5000 people are expected for the Samvidhana Sankalpa at 4PM on the same day to reaffirm their commitment to and the reassertion of the rights given by the Constitution. On the second day of the mass Dharani – the day of ‘Sangharsh’ – the organising networks expect to see a congregation of about 30,000 farmers and workers demanding both Union Govt and State Governments to respond to their 21 demands. A demand letter will be resent to both the Karnataka Governor and CM to come to the protest site to respond to these long-standing demands. Concluding the day’s events an ‘Agni-kunda’ will be lit up at the protest site to demonstrate through the burning of the anti-people bills, acts and laws. Based on the Governor’s and State Government’s response, on the final day,  November 28, a united resolution will be formulated regarding the future course of the mass struggle – the day of ‘Sandesh’. 

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The 3-day Maha Satyagraha is alongside running a ‘Protest Mela’ with cultural events bringing troupes from all over Karnataka; holding photo and book exhibitions, and; featuring documentary films tracing the farmers and workers struggles. The Annadatas and Shramikas will be fed by Sarvadharam Dasoha (a Langar) organised by the Annada Runa Dasoha Samiti under the presidentship of BT Lalitha Naik, from Labour Minister and Socialist. 

The Indian Agriculture Acts of 2020, often termed the Farm Bills, were three acts initiated by the Parliament of India inSeptember 2020, and were promulgated via an ordinance by the Union Government. On November 26 (Constitution Day) this triggered what might be one of India’s longest and largest farmer protests in the history of modern India. On 11 December 2021, after repealing the three laws and giving assurances relating to the farmers’ demands that still stand unfulfilled. In Karnataka there Farm Laws have still not been repealed.

The assurances after the withdrawal of the three farm laws have remained unfulfilled, while the anti-workers’ policies remain as law. The laws allow for 12-hour workdays in industries, women to work night shifts and lets overtime extend from 75 hours to 145 hours. The bill amends the Factories Act of 1948, which is a social legislation that was established to ensure the safety, health and welfare of workers at work. Varalakshmi CITU leader said, ”Anganawadi, Asha, Midday Meal women workers are participating in big numbers…women workers are the most unsecured and low paid employees….so it is natural that their participation in struggles is also increasing”. 

Some of the 21 demands are: bring in farm produce price guarantee legislation; compulsory waiving of farmer loans; receive pattas for ‘bagair hukum’ lands; receive land rights Hakkupathra (for houses); stop harassment by forest officials; job security for contract workers; to demand implementation of equal pay for equal work; legislation guaranteeing Rs 26,000 minimum wage.

 The three days hold the hope and aspirations of a majority of the population of this country. The struggle has been long-standing, the rights sought are critical for not only the survival but also for key sectors of the economy to thrive. The federal structure across the country has the opportunity here to step up and be accountable and responsive.

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The post Mahapadav/Samyuktha Horata: A Kisan-Mazdoor Historical Unity appeared first on SabrangIndia.

End the suffering of farmers by way of land attachment and auction of agricultural land, demanded the farmers coalition Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on January 24, 2022 amidst protests outside Rajasthan Raj Bhawan.

राजस्थान के किसान संगठनों के प्रतिनिधियों ने आज राजस्थान गवर्नर भवन का घेराव किया व राज्य विधानसभा में पास व राज्यपाल के पास अटके हुए जमीन कुर्की रोकने संबंधी कानून को मंजूरी देने की मांग की। #KisanMajdoorEktaZindabaad #FarmersProtest #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/Sqg38XerbR

— Kisan Ekta Morcha (@Kisanektamorcha) January 24, 2022

For over a year, state farmers have waited for the government to pass the Removal Of Difficulties (Amendment) Act 2020 and alleviate farmers’ concerns about losing their land. However, Governor Kalraj Mishra of the Congress-led government has stalled on signing the document for the past months.

On Monday, as many as 200 farmers grew tired of the imminent danger of land attachment and land auctions and gathered outside the Raj Bhawan for the passing of the law. Protesters handed the Governor a memorandum appealing for the realisation of the law that bans land auction of farmers with agricultural land up to 5 acres.

“Farmers have been removed from their own land and died by suicide. If this goes on then in the time to come many such deaths will continue,” said State Gramin Kisan Majdoor Samiti (GKS) Convenor Ranjeet Singh Raju.

In the memorandum, farmers pointed out that commercial houses across India took loans of ₹ 1 lakh cr each yet the government has not called for an inquiry for such defaulters. Instead, farmers with small loans are targeted in the name of NPAs. There is great content among farmers regarding this because it gives land mafias an advantage in taking over farm land at cheap prices.

Citing instances, the protesters demanded the removal of the Dausa Collectorate office superintendent who recently dismissed the stay on land auction called by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and forcefully sold farmland.

Farmers unrest brewing

As elections approach in various states, farmers continue to be vocal in voicing their grievances. SKM leaders warned that members will observe widespread protests across India if the demands assured to them are not accepted by January 31. Further, unions in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand will also start “Mission UP Uttarakhand” where farmers will discourage people from voting for the ruling regime as they did during West Bengal elections.

“Along with our major demands on MSP legalisation, removal of laws penalising farmers and suspension of the Minister responsible for the Lakhimpur Kheri killings, we also want the UP police to free the 12 farmers facing FIRs and arrests. If all of this is not accepted, we will once again appeal to people not to vote for this government,” SKM member Gurmeet Singh Mahima told SabrangIndia.

Farmers have dubbed the potential nationwide protests on January 31, “Day of Betrayal”.  Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions, Independent Sectoral Federations / Associations will join this event as well.

“The Centre seems to be dithering on the promises made to the SKM in writing, such as formation of a committee to look into the question of legal guarantee for MSP for agricultural produce, withdrawal of Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021, sacking of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, the alleged perpetrator of Lakhimpur Kheri atrocity. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, to salvage the image of the Prime Minister as having buckled before the rock-like resolve of farmers, shamelessly said “we can always enact the laws again”,” said CTUs. They further said the ruling regime “needs to be told that their act of betrayal will not go unnoticed.”

Like the support of the CTUs, the SKM also promised its support for the nationwide strike called by trade unions on February, 23 and February 24 against the anti-labour, anti-people and anti-national policies consisting of wholesale privatisation of national assets and pushing the labour codes.

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Lakhimpur Kheri killings were planned: SIT

The post Sign the RODA Act and curb farmer suicides: SKM to Rajasthan Governor appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Reminiscent of the September Mahapanchayat, large delegations of farmers travelled to Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on November 22, 2021 to join the first mass mobilisation of peasants since the repeal of the three farm laws.

On Monday, farmers group Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders assembled in the city’s Eco Garden along with a sea of farmers from various states. Speakers congratulated farmers on what they called “the first victory” of the struggle when Prime Minister Narendra Modi conceded to withdrawing the forcibly-passed laws.

“The government is giving too little even now, even though there were several demands on the table,” said SKM leaders in a joint statement.

They reminded the government that authorities were yet to respond to other crucial demands like the legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP), withdrawal of Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2021, dismissal of penal provisions in the Delhi air quality regulation and related Act. Further, the SKM also demanded that FIRs against farmers be withdrawn, Union Minister Ajay Mishra be suspended and arrested for his role in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings, and martyr families be compensated and rehabilitated.

Since the Mahapanchayat took place in UP, families of farmers martyred in the October 3 killings were brought on the stage and felicitated. All leaders called for strict action against Mishra for a fair trial in court.

“We will show this government the same strength during the UP 2022 elections that we showed in Punjab earlier,” said SKM leader Darshan Pal.

He and other leaders also voiced the concerns of sugarcane farmers who are yet to be paid their dues by the state government. Farmer leaders noted that support of political parties and civil society groups continues to amplify SKM demands.

Reminding the struggle to be a movement of India’s masses, the SKM also expressed condolences for the demise of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) Chairperson Narendra Patil on Monday. The struggles of fishers and fishing communities all over India, acknowledged the SKM.

Meanwhile, Singhu border farmers welcomed Karnataka’s K. Nagaraj who walked 5,100 kms for 185 days, in a solo padayatra from MM Hills for farmers. He covered 31 Karnataka districts before heading to Delhi. Throughout the journey, he spread the message of protesting farmers everywhere. Similarly, Jagdish Singh cycled from Amritsar to Lucknow to attend the Lucknow Kisan Mahapanchayat.

Related:

Welcome repeal of laws but other demands pending: SKM to PM Modi
Farmers struggle to continue until all demands are met: SKM
Will repeal of Farm Laws help BJP win UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand elections?
SC appoints retired P&H HC judge Rakesh Jain to monitor Lakhimpur Kheri probe
New farmer suicide data showcases continuing social inequalities

The post Lucknow Mahapanchayat: Droves of farmers celebrate first victory appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a brutal and inhuman attack on peacefully protesting farmers led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) at Tikonia in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh on October 3, 2021, a convoy of vehicles associated with BJP’s Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay Mishra Teni, his son Ashish Mishra Teni, and other goons ran over several farmer protesters. It is reported that one of the farmers was shot dead by the son of the Union Minister. Four farmers and one local journalist were killed in the incident, and several others were seriously injured. Terai Kisan Sanghatan and SKM leader Tajinder Singh Virk was also seriously injured.

Thousands of farmers started assembling from the morning of October 3 in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh for a black flag protest against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra Teni, for the latter’s open threat issued against farmer leaders in a public meeting. The farmers with black flags occupied the helipad at Maharaja Agrasen Ground to prevent the Deputy CM from landing there. The brutal attack on farmers happened as the farmers were dispersing and leaving from the protest site. Mr Teni’s son, uncle and other goons are then reported to have run over the protesters who had lined up on the roads with black flags.

On the very same day, October 3, in another condemnable development, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar was heard in a video clip encouraging BJP-RSS men to pick up lathis and attack farmers, even if this means ending up in jails for a few months! While the farmers’ movement has explicitly made peace and non-violence as its values, it is clear that the BJP governments are acting with murderous intent on their own citizens. SKM condemned the BJP CM’s violent intent and demanded that he resign from his constitutional post. 

Serial murder of farmers

This is the third serial murder of farmers by the BJP in a little over a month. The first was the murder of Sushil Kajal of Karnal in Haryana on August 28, as a result of the brutal police lathi charge by the BJP-JJP’s Haryana government, for which orders “to break the heads of farmers” were given by the notorious SDM Ayush Sinha, obviously under the directions of chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The second was the equally brutal killing of two Muslim farmers Saddam Hussain and 12-year-old Sheikh Forid on September 23 by police firing ordered by the BJP’s Assam government. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was shameless enough to hail the police action. The third is the mowing down of four farmers Gurvinder Singh (19), Lovepreet Singh (20), Daljeet Singh (35) and Nachattar Singh (60) and a journalist Raman Kashyap on October 3 in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre by BJP hoodlums in Uttar Pradesh. Besides these killings, over 605 farmers have died as martyrs on the Delhi borders during the last 10 months.

Eye witness accounts reveal how the murderous attack seems to be allegedly planned, facilitated by the UP police. It is reported that police removed barricades to allow the vehicles of the Minister’s son, who himself was driving the Thar vehicle, to mow down protestors indiscriminately, and the farmers retaliated thereafter. The police allegedly helped Ashish Mishra Teni in escaping from the scene, and it is reported that he fired as he escaped. The specific targeting of SKM leader Tajinder Singh Virk was narrated in eye-witness accounts. 

After the brutal and barbaric incidents in Lakhimpur Kheri, where four protesting farmers and a local journalist were mowed down by vehicles to their death, there were questions raised by the Godi media and by the notorious BJP-RSS IT cells about the protestors and their violent behaviour. It was only a matter of time that the true narrative of the reality of the incidents in Lakhimpur Kheri had to emerge.

Accordingly, a shocking video emerged on October 5, which forced even Godi TV channels of India to demand justice by their own standards, even though no media house offered any apology and correction for the false and spurious narrative that was spun since October 3. In this video, the explanation given by the Minister Ajay Mishra Teni and his son was proved to be false. The vehicles of the Minister fatally mowed down peacefully walking unaware protestors who were returning from their protest. Many eyewitness accounts are now being released on videos which also reveal that the Minister’s son Ashish Mishra was indeed driving the ‘Thar’ vehicle, from which he later got down and ran away, with cover and support provided by the police, and while firing on protesters. The journalist Raman Kashyap’s family pointed out that he also got killed by vehicles crushing him. 

In an urgently convened virtual press conference, members of the 9-member coordination committee of SKM addressed the media with regard to the ghastly incidents in Lakhimpur Kheri. SKM’s Richa Singh and Guramneet Mangat who were in Lakhimpur Kheri (the former during the occupation of the helipad in Tikonia earlier in the day and the latter throughout the murderous incidents also) also shared the details of the shocking events.

The SKM demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government must immediately impose cases with murder charges under IPC Section 302 against all those involved from the side of Ajay Mishra Teni, and the Union Minister must be dismissed immediately. The SKM also demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.

The Yogi Adityanath-led BJP Uttar Pradesh government tried numerous undemocratic ways of preventing various people going to Lakhimpur Kheri, whether it was SKM leaders, social activists, or political leaders. Many SKM leaders were arrested when on their way to Lakhimpur Kheri. Section 144 was imposed, and internet services were suspended. The UP Government went to the extent of disallowing certain people from arriving into, and leaving from particular airports, and also wrote to the Punjab government, asking that no person from Punjab should be allowed to enter Lakhimpur Kheri. The prevention of leaders of the Opposition from visiting the spot, including the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and two sitting Chief Ministers (of Punjab and Chattisgarh), and disallowing the landing of a Deputy Chief Minister show the panic of the Yogi regime. All these incidents clearly show that the UP government has something to hide, and is protecting the culprits. Such draconian measures are unprecedented. SKM condemned all these undemocratic measures of the Uttar Pradesh BJP government. 

Farmers compel state govt to concede compensation

On October 4, an agreement was reached between SKM leaders along with local protesting farmers and families of the deceased, and the state administration, which paved the way for the last rites to be performed of the martyred farmers, after the postmortem. The bodies of the four martyrs had been kept in an overnight vigil by thousands of farmers and their families in Tikunia’s college ground. The state government will give 45 lakh rupees each and a government job each to the families of the farmers who were killed. The injured will be given 10 lakh rupees each. An FIR has been registered against Ashish Mishra Teni and 15 others under Sections 302, 120B and other charges, and the government said that it will arrest all the accused within a week. A case has been registered against Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni also, under Sections like 120B. The Government has agreed to get a retired High Court judge to probe the matter. The demand for Ajay Mishra Teni’s dismissal from the Union Government is still pending.

Among those SKM leaders who took part in the negotiations with the state government and later addressed the huge condolence meeting in Tikonia were BKU leaders Rakesh Tikait, Dharmendra Malik and Rajvir Jadaon, AIKS leaders D P Singh, Mukut Singh and Chandrapal Singh, and also Gurmeet Mangat, Jagtar Singh Bazwa and Baba Anup Singh. The huge meeting was attended by thousands of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh farmers in a spirit of exemplary unity.

The agreement with the administration on October 4 was only to pave the way for the last rites of the martyrs to be performed. The key demands of SKM remain, and it will soon announce a programme of action for getting these demands met.

Massive protests break out, countrywide

SKM called upon all farmers’ organisations across the country to protest at Government offices in all districts on October 4, to press for the above demands. SKM appealed to all citizens participating in the farmers’ movement to continue their protests peacefully and non-violently, as they have done all the past ten months. The movement recognises the various dirty ways in which BJP-RSS forces are desperately trying to break it, and will combat any such attempts by holding on to satya and ahimsa, said SKM. 

There were spontaneous protests in response to the massacre in Lakhimpur Kheri from October 3 night itself, when candlelight marches and rallies were taken out in places like Ambala, Kurukshetra, Chandigarh and others. In Puranpur and elsewhere, highways were jammed by protesting farmers. Thousands of farmers poured into Tikunia on October 4, at the site of the violent incidents, where the bodies of the martyrs were kept.  

On October 4 and 5, large protests were organised at DC/DM offices and other locations in many places across the country. Reports have come in from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and other states about these protests. A protest organised outside UP Bhawan in New Delhi ended with scores of protestors being picked up and detained for many hours by the Delhi Police in Mandir Marg Police Station.

In stark contrast to the violence let loose by the BJP governments and its leaders, the farmers’ movement marked the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri with great respect and renewed inspiration on October 2. A one day fast was observed in the Morchas to mark the occasion. Across India, farmers’ groups organised events to mark the day in memory of the two great leaders who shaped our nation’s independence, destiny and ethos towards rural India. “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” is a slogan that reverberates to this day in the farmers’ movement, a slogan coined and made popular by Shastriji. It is a slogan that makes farmers of the country feel proud and recognised for their immense contributions. The farmers’ movement has been running peacefully for the last 10 months, based on the strength of Satya and Ahimsa, the touchstones of Gandhiji’s Satyagraha philosophy. It will continue to do so, facing and overcoming all odds.

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Farmer leaders demanded today that the Haryana government charge Karnal Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ayush Sinha with murder in addition to his dismissal for the Karnal lathicharge incident.

On Sunday, farmers organisation Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) paid its respects to belated protesting farmer Sushil Kajal, who died during the Saturday violence. However, leaders like Balbir Singh Rajewal were all the more shocked on hearing about Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s statement defending Sinha’s actions.

Even Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik, who is from the BJP, demanded an immediate dismissal of the official. Malik hinted that if the Khattar government does not take action against Sinha, it can only be assumed that he was acting on instructions from elsewhere.

“It is utterly shocking that the Chief Minister is choosing to brush aside the barbaric and illegal instructions as only a wrong choice of words. It once again clearly reiterates what we have been saying, which is that the Khattar-Chautala government is at war with its own people,” said SKM leader Darshan Pal in a press release.

According to farmers, Khattar said that concerned farmers do not have anything to do with the Haryana government because they are protesting for the repeal of the three farm laws. However, the SKM pointed out that the Haryana government has treated farmers brutally, acting as a puppet for the central government.

In response to Khattar’s statements, the SKM put out a call to boycott BJP and allied parties and organise black flag protests against them. Already on Monday, a kisan panchayat in Gharonda grain market issued an ultimatum to the state government demanding action against Sinha by September 6.

Similarly, in Yamunanagar on Sunday, BJP officials had to cancel two programs fearful of facing farmers’ ire. A programme by Haryana Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gurjar, Yamunanagar MLA and Mayor and BJP leader Sonali Phogat, MP Ratanlal Kataria were cancelled by the party when large numbers of farmers started gathering to protest these events.

The SKM called the action of the administration to file cases against 100 protesting farmers as ‘shameful’. Leaders asked for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all such cases by the Haryana government.

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As many as 200 farmers associated with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) collectively rejected the APMC Bypass Act and demanded similar action from the Indian Parliament during a Kisan Sansad on July 23, 2021. A peaceful meeting was organised at Jantar Mantar where members said that the Act, first brought up in September 2020, usurps state government powers and undermines constitutional and democratic functioning.

Six people including Speakers and Deputy Speakers spoke for the three sessions of the “House”. Following the question hour and debate, members Hardev Singh Harshi, Jagtar Singh Bajwa, V Venkataramaiah, Jangvir Singh Chauhan, Mukesh Chandra and Harpal Singh Bilari concluded:

“State governments, in consultation with farmer unions, should strengthen marketing and storage facilities for farmers, bring improvements in mandi system to facilitate more transparency, easier participation of more small traders, women farmers and farmers without land pattas. There should be an end to unfair and anti-competitive practices. More mandis should be established so that every farmer has access to a mandi within 10 km. The Centre should help in financing such improvements rather than take away the power from states.”

Members also demanded the resignation of the Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

The discussion that continued from a day prior observed that the provisions in the concerned Act favour agribusiness companies and traders at the expense of farmers’ interests. It will dismantle existing regulation and oversight mechanisms, allowing domination of markets by big corporations, said farmers.

Further, those present spoke of crores of loss between June 2020 and January 2021 during the execution of the APMC Bypass Act. Farmer leaders said many APMC mandis reported non-payment and fraud by unregistered traders, companies that more than halved the purchases. Many APMC mandis were at the verge of closing down.

“The APMC Bypass Act will lead to closure of most mandis in due time because of corporates and traders flocking to the unregulated “trade areas” created by the Act,” said the organiser of the Kisan Sansad in a press release.

Amidst discussions, farmers said they need many more operating mandis with the government investing in the development of public marketing and storage facilities. Further, they demanded that any future changes in the marketing system should be undertaken by state governments which are more accessible and accountable to farmers.

Inside India’s Parliament

MPs attending the monsoon session spoke about the issue of farm laws and the farmers’ struggle. Members from various political parties previously moved multiple adjournment motions for the same in the Parliament and most of them have been rejected.

On Friday morning, several MPs protested near the Gandhi Statue yet again while Tomar met with people holding placards, voicing the demands of the peasant struggle.

“It is time that the Modi government reconciled itself squarely with this simple reality – farmers will not retreat without a full repeal of the three laws, and without securing MSP as a legal guarantee. The resolution to the current agitation is only through this, and the Government not recognising this to this day, has been responsible for the lives of hundreds of farmers being lost in the agitation,” said SKM leader Darshan Pal.

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The post Kisan Sansad: Farmers reject APMC Bypass Act appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Union and state governments in BJP-ruled states detained protesters across India, assembling in response to a call by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to observe ‘Save Agriculture, Save Democracy Day’ on June 26, 2021.

Following seven months of nationwide protests, thousands of farmers marched to Raj Bhavans in different states as an expression of solidarity. As per farmers’ reports, a similar rally was carried out in Massachusetts, USA as well. However, unlike the Indian diaspora, dissenters in Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and other regions were barred from marching or submitting a memorandum addressed to the President or the Governor.

“Where was the need to stop protestors, when the administration already knew about SKM plans? It was only a matter of handing over a memorandum to the Governor and not allowing even this much is a reflection of the undeclared emergency and authoritarian times we are going through,” said SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal in a press release.

Citing specific instances, farmer leaders talked about the approximately 40,000 Punjab and Haryana farmers in Chandigarh who faced water cannons on Saturday.

Members had organised two separate 7-8 km long farmers’ rallies in Chandigarh and Punjab to present the memorandum. The Punjab front broke through police barricades and faced batons and water cannons.

In Uttarakhand’s Dehradun, Karnataka’s Bengaluru and other cities, Telangana’s Hyderabad, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal, police picked up protesting farmers from their assembly points.

Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow, a delegation of farmer leaders presented the memorandum to a designated official of the Raj Bhavan. Similarly, farmer representatives from Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha also successfully handed over memorandums.

In the national capital, Delhi protestors were initially not allowed to meet the Lieutenant Governor and taken to the Wazirabad Police Training Centre. Nonetheless, leaders succeeded in handing over the document after a virtual brief meeting. Earlier in the day, Coordinator of Delhi For Farmers was confined to her home even though Delhi Police had informed Coordinator Poonam Kaushik beforehand that the group could hold a dharna at Civil Lines Metro Station.

Other organisations like the AIDWA-SFI-DYFI jointly participated in the protest jatha at the Singhu border. A joint jatha of more than 70 members of AIKS-AIDWA-DYFI came to the Singhu border from Amritsar. The jatha marched through the border shouting slogans against “the anti-people Modi regime.” The public meeting was addressed by CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala and AIAWU Joint Secretary V Sivadasan, Bachchan Singh, Mariam Dhawale, V P Sanu and Ranjit Kaur.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) leaders demanded the withdrawal of the three contentious farm laws and opposed petrol price hike during protests. They also demanded implementation of recommendations mentioned in the Swaminathan Report.

All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) and the SKM parties also assembled in Kolkata, West Bengal. Leaders like Amal Haldar, Kartik Pal, Sameer Puttund condemned the central government for “handing over the agricultural marketing and storage and supply of essential commodities to the exclusive capitalists without consulting farmers

“The government wants to give legal recognition to contract farming for the purpose of enslaving farmers. As a result of all these laws, the agricultural system will be destroyed, black market will increase. There will be unlimited price increases. The misery of the poor and common people of the country will not end,” said the AIKSCC.

The SKM condemned the Centre, stating, “Instead of resolving this movement in a democratic way, the Modi government wants to destroy this movement in an undemocratic way and by force. Arresting protesters and supporters, disrupting social media and harassing them in various ways. In this case also the law is not being followed.”

Leaders lamented how intellectuals who are critical of the central government, are also not left out from this fate. They called it a state of undeclared emergency where agitators and supporters are labelled as traitors, Khalistani, Corona Super Spreader. However, farmers asserted that they will not end their struggle until their demands are met.

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Farmers on May 21, 2021 called for immediate intervention to resume discussions with Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to address longstanding demands of peasants and rural citizens.

The farmers organisation sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterating the demands for: the repeal of the three farm Acts; legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) at C2+50 production; protection from the adverse impact of the proposed Electricity Bill.

Further, SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal asked the central government to deploy all energy and resources at its command to deal with the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic that has reached rural areas as well. In this regard, farmers recommended free treatment to all Covid-infected patients, free ration and livelihood support to needy citizens and free vaccination to all within six months.

“We do not wish to distract the government at this juncture, even though the hardship we face is mounting every day. That is why we have waited patiently for the past four months. But if we do not have a constructive and positive response from your government by May 25, we shall be constrained to announce a further intensification of our struggle in the next phase, beginning with the national day of protest on May 26,” said Rajewal.

Farmers protesting the three laws – 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 – have remained stationed at Delhi borders for nearly six months. Accordingly, farmers’ national day of protest will also mark seven years of the BJP-regime in India.

“Your government at the Centre is the most anti-farmer government that this country has seen. Farmers and organisations across the country are planning to observe this as a Black Flag Day in protest against the utter inaction and callous approach of the government,” said SKM leader Darshan Pal in the letter.

Wednesday also marks Buddha Purnima, the birth, nirvana and parinirvana of Lord Buddha. Following similar ideals, the SKM asserted its resolve and faith in peaceful mass struggles and democratic solutions through dialogue. Leaders said that they agreed for multiple rounds of discussion despite the repression and defamation unleashed by it against the movement.

Farmers said that any democratic government would have repealed the three contentious laws and seized this opportunity to provide a legal guarantee of minimum support price to all farmers. However, the current Government of India has turned it into a prestige point and refused to budge.

“Worse, your government has shut the doors for any dialogue since January 22, even when you claimed the opposite. We have so far lost more than 470 colleagues in this movement due to this obstinacy on the part of your government,” said Rajewal.

Deeply conscious of the risks of Covid-19, farmer leaders said they do not want to expose protesting farmers or anyone else to the infection or any health hazard. However, they stressed that farmers will not give up on the struggle until their demands are met.

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The post SKM asks PM Modi to resume dialogue with farmers appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Thousands of employees associated with the Democratic Employees’ Federation and the Punjab Subordinate Service Federation have set off to join Delhi protest sites on April 11, 2021, to maintain the farmers’ struggle vigour during wheat harvest.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders on April 7 said full preparations have been undertaken to strengthen the protest sites. “The movement will not be allowed to weaken in any manner,” said the SKM in a press release.

While wheat farmers prepared for this year’s harvest, cotton farmers strongly condemned the increase in Bt cotton seed prices by Rs. 37 per packet by the central government. Calling it an attack on farmers, they said the new prices will put an additional burden of Rs. 14 crores on Punjab farmers alone. 

“Last year, the price was fixed at Rs. 730 per packet, whereas the supply of seeds for this season started at Rs. 767 per packet. Farmers of Malwa belt of Punjab as well as cotton growers in other parts of India will be affected by this price rise,” said SKM leaders.

They also warned the central government against falling short of their commitment to withdraw the Draft Electricity Amendment Bill. Any re-introduction and passing of the Bill would be a reneging on the commitment made, and would lead to an intensification of the agitation, warned SKM leader Darshan Pal.

Meanwhile, Haryana farmer unions warned BJP and JJP leaders that their social boycott will continue and that leaders should refrain from participation in public programs anywhere in the state. Earlier, leaders issued an ultimatum to this effect as a response to the anti-farmer attitude and behaviour.

Farmers took such actions against the backdrop of Tuesday protests against BJP State President OP Dhankar and BJP MP Nayab Singh Saini, and MLA Gopal Kanda – the State Lok Hit Party President, who voted against a recent No Confidence Motion against Khattar government – in Sirsa on Wednesday. Police used water cannons on protesting farmers. However, the SKM appealed to farmers to remain peaceful in their social boycott of anti-farmer politicians.

Further, the SKM noted that a member of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission resigned from her post in support of the farmers’ movement and invited other BJP leaders to quit their posts too.

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