The protesting unions issue an ultimatum to the government. for the repeal of agricultural laws
Tens of thousands of protesting farmers will march into Delhi on Republic Day and hold their own parallel tractor parade if their demands are not met by then, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders said on Saturday.
After more than a month of camping at various points along Delhi’s borders, farmer groups issued an ultimatum to the Center ahead of the next round of negotiations on Monday.
“If the government does not comply with our demands on January 4, we will hold a tractor rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal highway on January 6. That will be our rehearsal for Republic Day,” said Darshan Pal, president of Punjab for the Kisan Krantikari Union.
‘Will enter Delhi’
“They only have to issue declarations of principle that they will repeal the three laws and promise a legal guarantee for MSP. [or minimum support prices]. But if this is not done before January 26, we will surely enter Delhi peacefully, with our tractors, wagons and farm vehicles, for our own kisan parade, ”he said.
Also read: Farmers’ protest | Only verbal guarantees from government, farmers say
Similar parades will also be held in state capitals and district headquarters, he said.
In the run-up to Republic Day, a full list of protests is being planned. The Lohri festival on January 13 will be marked Kisan Sankalp Diwas by burning copies of the three laws that farmers want to repeal. On January 18 it will be celebrated as Mahila Kisan Diwas to underline the role of women farmers. On the anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth on January 23, farmers will protest against the Raj Bhawans in all state capitals.
“We have been protesting peacefully for so long. But this government has an ego problem. We have always told the government that they only have two options: repeal the three laws or use force to evict us, ”said Balbir Singh Rajewal, a Punjab peasant leader who heads his own faction of the Bharatiya Kisan Union. “We intend to remain in peace, we will not participate in any confrontation. But if the government chooses to use the police, that is its choice, “he added.
The movement has no current plans to request permission from the police for its planned parade in Delhi. “Are we farmers, not citizens of the Republic? We have every right to celebrate Republic Day without the need for any police permission, ”said Pal.
The leaders are part of the seven-member coordinating committee of the SKM, an umbrella platform for the diverse coalition of farmer groups gathered at the border. They spoke to journalists at their first press conference in the capital since the protest began.
Demand for MSP is key
The Center has argued that its agricultural reform laws will bring free markets, private investment in post-harvest infrastructure, and increase farmers’ incomes. Protesting farmers say the reforms will dilute the government’s system of purchasing crops at MSP rates and make small farmers vulnerable to exploitation by large corporations.
Regarding the MSP, Haryana’s agricultural leader, Gurnam Singh Chaduni, said the government had not kept its own promises.
“Advertising MSP rates is one thing, but buying crops at MSP is another,” he said, using the example of corn farmers who are forced to sell their crops in the market for ₹ 800-1100 per quintal, although the MSP rate is ₹ 1850. per quintal, ”he noted.
“In this way, the government is looting farmers to the tune of 3-4 million lakh rupees every year by failing to ensure they sell their crops at the MSP rates it advertises …[During the talks]When we asked if they were willing to buy all 23 crops from all farmers at MSP rates, they refused to commit to that. So your MSP promise is a sham, ”said Chaduni.
BKU-Sidhupur’s Jagjit Singh Dallewal harshly criticized BJP leaders who have defamed the farmers’ movement by alleging links to terrorists and Maoists in Jalistan, and claiming that the protest is limited to Punjab and Haryana.
“The world can see that we are carrying out our protest in a peaceful and non-violent way, with the support of the whole country and the world. But some people have the intention to defame us, ”he said.
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