Farmers Protest Again: “This is the government of the businessman,” says Tikait
Farmers protest is again on road, a “Maha Panchayat” will be held on March 20 outside the Parliament to protest the “anti-farmer” budget and the remaining issues facing the farming community, according to Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, a coalition of numerous farmer groups that led the year-long struggle against the three farm laws.
The announcement was made following a national meeting of the conglomerate on Thursday at Jat Dharamshala in Kurukshetra.
Some of the major, long-overdue demands of the SKM are the withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill 2022, the legal guarantee of the Minimum Support Price procurement of all crops, debt forgiveness, pensions for farmers and agricultural workers, pro-farmer policies for insurance claims of the damaged crops, and the dismissal of Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ajay Kumar Mishra for his alleged involvement in the killings of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri.
According to the farmer leaders who briefed the media about the budget, the budget is primarily “anti-farmer” and “anti-agriculture” since it makes substantial cuts in funding for rural development, education, health care, MNREGA, and other programmes that benefit farmers—aside from reductions in subsidies for fertilizers and food security. The leaders further stated that a subsequent gathering of the SKM would be used to decide upon the next steps for the pan-Indian farmer’s movement.
Farmer Leader Rakesh Tikait threatened the Modi govt. to call the military or the police, but the meters would not be installed. The government should protect its meters, theft is increasing. Electricity is being sold to big companies. The poor are being exploited. This is the government of the businessman.
During the Kisan Mahapanchayat, Tikait said that from March 20, farmers will once again agitate in Delhi. Tikait also announced that on January 26, 2024, there will be a tractor parade across the country. The farmers’ organizations are not against any one party. Where the government takes decisions against the farmers, we will go there.
भारतीय किसान यूनियन के आह्वान पर आज मुजफ्फरनगर के राजकीय इंटर कॉलेज के मैदान में पिछले तेरह दिन से चल रहे आन्दोलन को लेकर आज आयोजित किसान मजदूर महापंचायत में हिस्सा लिया और सभा को सम्बोधित किया।
हमारी लड़ाई सरकार की गलत नीतियों से अंतिम सांस तक जारी रहेगी।@ANI @news24tvchannel pic.twitter.com/h2LZHQ4fRZ— Rakesh Tikait (@RakeshTikaitBKU) February 10, 2023
To strengthen and grow the umbrella organization, the meeting presided over by farmer leader Yudhvir Singh, also finalized the terms and conditions for membership in the platform by different constituents as well as its structural composition.
The meeting also passed a resolution demanding the dismissal of Haryana Minister, Sandeep Singh, accused of sexual assault by a woman coach. The SKM expressed its solidarity with the victims and various social platforms are fighting to seek justice in all cases involving the safety of women athletes.
Yudhvir Singh, the head of SKM, stated: “Farmers from all over the nation would arrive in Delhi on March 20 and renew the farm protest because the government has failed its promises. There, we will assemble and choose our future course of action. There are other states where charges laid against farmers have not yet been withdrawn, and families of farmers who died in the farm agitation have not yet received compensation.”
In response to a question, Yudhvir Singh stated: “Elections are planned for next year, and it is well known that the government is subject to pressure in the run-up to elections and is willing to accede to requests. The government and we are both very aware of this fact. Farmers will be forced to restart the farm agitation if the government displays its stubborn behaviour. All farm unions will be urged to respond and travel to Delhi.”
The farm leaders finalised the SKM’s nine-point strategy, which calls for the formation of a 31-member National Coordination Committee to oversee the organisation of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha as well as rules and guidelines for different constituents’ affiliation with the platform and its structural composition in order to improve and grow the umbrella organization.
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Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), held a one year protest at New Delhi’s borders against three contentious farm laws. As a part of the “Dilli Chalo” campaign, thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, marched into the national capital on November 25 of last year, sparking the start of the protests.
After the Farmer’s (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 were the three Farm Bills that the Indian government promulgated. These three Bills transited India’s agriculture industry from a publicly owned sector to one that is privately owned.
The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021, was approved by both Houses of Parliament on November 29 following the historic announcement by the Prime Minister to repeal the laws on November 19.
