Farmers Begin March To Delhi After Inconclusive Talks With Government
Following inconclusive five-hour meeting with the Union ministers on their demands, farmers started their march towards Delhi this morning. Despite the discussions in Chandigarh, led by Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal and Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda, a resolution on the primary demand of minimum support price for crops remained elusive.
The talks, extending late into the night, saw some progress as an agreement was reached post 11 pm on repealing the Electricity Act 2020, providing compensation to farmers affected by the tragic incident in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, and withdrawing cases against protesting farmers. However, the crucial demands concerning the enactment of legislation guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price for all crops, farmer loan waivers, and the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations remained unresolved.
Expressing disappointment, Sarwan Singh Pandher of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee said that the “Delhi Chalo” march will go as planned, suggesting the government”s lack of sincerity in addressing their grievances. Despite the farmers” peaceful intentions, the Delhi Police have taken stringent measures to prevent their entry into the city, fortifying the Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders with heavy police presence and imposing a ban on public gatherings and vehicular movement.
Similar precautions have been undertaken by authorities in Haryana, reinforcing state borders with Punjab and implementing strict measures against potential unrest. With over 400 farmers” unions collectively mobilising under the banners of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the “Delhi Chalo” march stands as a reminder to the government of its unfulfilled promises.
“From a needle to hammer, we have everything we need in our trolleys, including tools to break stones. We left our village with six months” ration with us. We have enough diesel, even for our brothers from Haryana,” Harbhajan Singh, a farmer from Punjab”s Gurdaspur, headed to Delhi on his tractor, pulling two trollies loaded with supplies, told NDTV.
Amid the array of demands voiced by the protesting farmers, the enactment of a law guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops stands out as a critical lifeline, providing stability in the face of market uncertainties. Contentious issues such as the repeal of the Electricity Act 2020, compensation for farmers affected by the tragic events in Lakhimpur Kheri, and the withdrawal of legal actions against participants in the farmers” movement remain unresolved. While some progress was made on these fronts following intense negotiations, the farmers remain resolute, asserting that the assurances made by the government two years ago remain unfulfilled.
The recent discussions underscored the government”s willingness to address concerns regarding the legal proceedings initiated against farmers during the 2020-21 agitation. The government has proposed the formation of a committee to deliberate on crucial matters such as legal assurances for MSP, debt waivers, and the implementation of recommendations put forth by the Swaminathan Commission. However, farmer representatives remain skeptical, emphasising the need for concrete action over deliberation.
The farmers” demands also include the reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organization agreements affecting agriculture, and adequate compensation for the families of farmers who lost their lives during previous agitations.
