Protesting farmers reject Modi govt’s proposal, announce to resume ‘Delhi Chalo’ march tomorrow
New Delhi: The agitating Indian farmers have rejected the Modi led BJP government’s proposal to buy five crops at minimum support price for five years, stating that it is not in farmers interest and announcing to resume their ‘Delhi Chalo’ tomorrow.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, convener of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political), which is leading this latest chapter of the farmers’ protest along with Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh committee (KMSC), told reporters that the Modi government’s proposal was not beneficial for farmers. “Hence we have decided to reject it and resume our march from Wednesday onwards,” he added.
Sarwan Singh Pandher, convener of KMSC said that they will stick to their demand of an MSP guarantee law on all 23 crops for which government announces MSP every year.
Dallewal said government’s proposal was an eyewash, adding that farmers of the movement believe that it is important to have a law on the MSP and guaranteed procurement of all 23 crops. He also said that the government had not shown commitment on their other demands like loan waiver, stopping the privatisation of electricity, comprehensive public sector crop insurance scheme, Rs 10,000 monthly pension to farmers above 60 years of age, the dismissal and prosecution of junior minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ over the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre of farmers, among others.
Dallewal said that the agitation for their demand is farmers’ constitutional right and cannot be taken away by force, as it is happening at Punjab and Haryana borders.
Both farmers’ leaders raised other matters like the resumption of internet in Punjab, and ongoing atrocities on farmers camping at Punjab-Haryana borders in Sambhu and Khanauri barriers.
Meanwhile, other farmers’ unions who are not part of negotiations with New Delhi also rejected the proposal.
Notably, clashes had begun and dozens were injured when farmers were halted from marching towards Delhi on February 13 at the Punjab and Haryana borders at Shambhu and Khanauri. Since then, there has been status quo as farmers have been in constant talks with the Indian government. There have been four round of talks.
More than 10,000 farmers have been camping on these borders where Indian forces’ personnel too have been deployed in huge numbers.
During the press conference on Monday, farmers’ leaders appealed to the Haryana government not to halt their march and allow them to camp at the national capital for the fulfilment of their legitimate rights.
