Today, on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the historic “Delhi Chalo” movement, millions of farmers marched and rallied in state capitals of India at the “RAJ BHAWAN CHALO” call given by the SKM. The protest marks the beginning of the next phase of the farmers’ protest till all the demands including “Karz Mukti – Poora Daam” — “Freedom from Indebtedness and Full Remunerative Price” are fulfilled by the government.
On the call of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), today (26 November, 2022), thousands of farmers, supported by workers, students, youth, women and ordinary people, held mega foot-marches and rallies all over the country. Protest gatherings were held at about 25 state capitals, more than 300 district headquarters and numerous tehsil headquarters.
Altogether, it is estimated that more than 3000 protests were held all over India. More than 5 million people came out on the streets to join the ‘Raj Bhawan Chalo’ or ‘March to Raj Bhawan’ call of SKM, to register their protest against the anti-farmer BJP-led Union Govt and send Memorandum of Demand of Farmers to the President of India through State Governors, to intervene and stop the anti-farmer activity of the ruling party at the Centre.
It was on 26 November in 2020 that SKM had launched the historic “Delhi Chalo” movement, which became the world’s longest and largest farmers movement, and led to the astounding victory of farmers against the corporate-political nexus to oust farmers from their land and livelihood.
The three farm laws, which triggered the historic farmers’ rebellion, were meant to liberalise India’s agriculture markets at the behest of WTO and open it to big national and international corporations. Farmers and farmers’ unions perceived these laws as an attack on their livelihoods and identity. Thousands of farmers marched from their villages on tractors and trolleys, and camped on highways at the borders leading to Delhi. Amidst a raging Covid-19 pandemic, farmers sustained their struggle demanding repeal of the three laws along with legal guarantee of MSP for all crops, and forced the union government to back down. After over an year of struggle, on 19 November 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to announce the repeal of the three farm laws.
The Modi Government betrayed the farmers by not implementing the written assurances made to SKM on 9 December 2021. Today, farmer union leaders submitted a Memorandum to the President of India through the State Governors on the betrayal of promises made by the Union Government to the farmers. The memorandum stated :
On the occasion of Constitution Day, farmers across India, through the Governors of their respective states, are reminding you of the promises made by the Union Government to the farmers. As you will be aware, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, in a letter to the Union Government dated 21 November 2021, had drawn the attention of the Government towards its six pending demands. In response to this, on 9 December 2021, Mr. Sanjay Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, wrote a letter (Secretary/AFW/2021/Miss/1) to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. In this letter, he gave assurance on behalf of the Government on many issues, and urged the withdrawal of the movement. Relying on this letter of the Government, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha decided to lift the Morchas on the border of Delhi and all the protest demonstrations on 11 December 2021. Today, over eleven months later, the Union Government has not fulfilled the promises made to the farmers.
The “March to Raj Bhawans” today marks the beginning of the next phase of the farmers’ protest till all the demands including “Karz Mukti – Poora Daam” — “Freedom from Indebtedness and Full Remunerative Price” are fulfilled by the government. The farmers’ demands include
- *Legally Guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP)* at C2+50% for all produce for all farmers
- *Freedom from Indebtedness* through a comprehensive Loan Waiver scheme
- *Withdrawal of Electricity Amendment Bill 2022*
- *Dismissal and Legal Action against Union Minister of State for Home Affairs* Ajay Mishra Teni, who is accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre of farmers and a journalist
- *Comprehensive and Effective Crop Insurance Scheme* to speedily compensate farmers for crop loss due to natural calamities
- *Farmers Pension* of Rs 5,000 per month to all marginal, small and medium scale farmers and agricultural workers
- *Withdrawal of all False Cases registered against Farmers* during the Farmers’ Movement
8. *Payment of Compensation* to families of all farmers who were martyred during Farmers’ Movement, along with the major local demands of the respective states.
SKM congratulated all farmers, farm labourers, workers, students, youth, women and other concerned citizens for the grand success of the ‘Raj Bhawan Chalo’ program and appealed to all across the country to prepare for and join continuous and committed nationwide struggles till all the demands are met.
The draft of the memorandum submitted to the State Governors is attached below.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha English Version Memorandum for 26th November