Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint platform of farmers’ union, has written a letter to the President of India demanding her to direct the Union government to intervene and save the life of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto death at the Khanauri border protest site in Punjab has entered 28 days; to stop repression and tear gas shelling on farmers marching to Delhi; to release all protesting farmers of Noida-Greater Noida from Luxer Jail of Gatam Buddha Nagar in UP, and withdraw the falsely implicated charges including attempt to murder on them; immediately withdraw the National Agriculture Market Policy.
Groundxero | Dec. 23, 2024
Samyukt Kisan Morcha, a joint platform of farmers’ union, has called on the farmers of India to held protests today, 23rd December 2024 in districts across the country against the NDA 3 led Union Government for not adhering to democratic principles of governance and hold discussions with all the farmers’ organisations and platforms who are struggling for the genuine demands.
SKM has written a letter to the President of India demanding her to direct the Union government to intervene and save the life of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto death at the Khanauri border protest site in Punjab has entered 28 days; to stop repression and tear gas shelling on farmers marching to Delhi; to release all protesting farmers of Noida-Greater Noida from Luxer Jail of Gatam Buddha Nagar in UP, and withdraw the falsely implicated charges including attempt to murder on them; immediately withdraw the National Agriculture Market Policy.
Jagjit Singh Dallewal, has instructed SKM (Non-Political) leaders not to allow anyone to remove him from the protest site the legal guarantee of MSP and loan waiver demands of farmers were fulfilled. Dallewal has made it clear that he wants to breathe his last at the protest site and does not wish to be taken to a hospital. He wrote a letter to the Supreme Court urging it to direct the Union government to enact a law guarantying MSP to prevent suicides by farmers.
SKM has urged the Union government to immediately hold discussions with all the farmer organisations in struggle and accept the genuine long pending demands of farmers on MSP, loan waiver, privatization of electricity, and implementation of LARR Act 2013. SKM pointed out the letter how the Narendra Modi led NDA2 government had shamelessly violated the agreement signed with Samyukt Kisan Morcha dated 9th December 2021 made in the wake of the historic farmers’ struggle at Delhi borders that ensured repeal of the pro-corporate three Farm Acts.
SKM had submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Leaders of Opposition in both the houses of Parliament and all the Members of the Parliament on 16, 17, 18 July 2024 just after the NDA3 Government took office after the 18th Lok Sabha election. Thousands of farmers organized a protest against the corporate control on agriculture across the country on 9th August 2024. On 26th November 2024, farmer unions along with Central Trade Unions and Agricultural Workers Unions held massive worker-farmer protest demonstrations in more than 500 districts across the country participated by nearly ten lakh people and submitted a memorandum to the President through the district collectors.
SKM wrote, “It is highly unfortunate that the Prime Minister, Shri. Narndra Modi is not ready to hold discussions with farmer organisations on struggles. Instead, consistent efforts are there to brutally suppress the struggles of farmers at Shambu and Khanuri borders of Punjab and Noida- Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh by using tear gas shelling, rubber bullets, water cannons and putting hundreds of farmers in jail for holding peaceful demonstrations and Dharna.”
The SKM expressed its serious concern on the deteriorating health condition of farmer leader Jagajit Singh Dallewal who is fasting unto death at Punjab borders for the last 27 days. It has warned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Punjab Chief Minister Bagawant Mann and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini would be responsible if any untoward developments happen.
The meeting has warned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Punjab Chief Minister Bagawant Mann and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini would be responsible if any untoward developments happen.
In Gautam Buddha Nagar in UP, the Police Commissionerate, in FIR No.0538 dated 4th December 2024, has implicated 112 protesting farmers on false charges of section 109 of BNS for attempt to murder of a Police Sub Inspector which is baseless. The farmers are in jail for the last 21 days. SKM has demanded immediate release of all the arrested farmers, and stringent action against the Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh and others responsible for the conspiracy.
The draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing was issued on November 25, 2024. The timing and approach of the draft has led to speculation that the government might be attempting to reintroduce elements of the repealed farm laws under a new guise. The proposed reforms, they fear, will dilute state authority over agricultural marketing, undermining the federal structure. Also, the policy’s silence on the statutory MSP guarantee, a central issue for farmers, is seen as a significant omission by the farmer unions.
The farmer unions, who led the historic struggle, three years ago, to repeal the farm laws, view the new National Agriculture Market Policy as part of the strategy of the corporate agenda to permit backdoor resurrection of the three farm laws. They allege that it has been the conscious efforts of the Union government in the last two years to thwart procurement in APMC markets in Punjab and Haryana, dismantle FCI by promoting cash transfer on food subsidy, reduction of food subsidy by Rs 60,470 cr. and fertiliser subsidy by Rs 62,445 cr. in the last three consecutive years are corporate attacks on the existing system of limited MSP and food security of the country. SKM said, “The corporate forces are challenging the working people of India and the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is serving the corporate interests only.”
The letter urges the President to immediately ensure:
- Holding talks with farmer organiaations and save the life of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.
- Stop repression on farmers marching to Delhi.
- Release all farmers of Noida – Greater Noida from Luxer Jail.
- Withdraw the National Agriculture Market Policy.
- Immediately hold discussions with all farmer organisations and solve all pending issues as agreed to in the letter dated December 9, 2021.