News Analysis India

Tag: Farmers Protest

  • Punjab polls 2022: Rival farmer union not against political activities

    By Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH:  It seems there is difference of opinion between the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan), the largest farmer union of Punjab, and 32 other farmer unions over early campaigning for the Assembly elections in the state. Ugrahan is saying it will not stop the programmes of political parties in the villages but will persuade the people not to attend them.

    Talking to The New Indian Express, Sukhdev Singh, general secretary of BKU, said “Our union will not stop the programmes of political parties in the villages, but will ask people not to attend their rallies because attending these programs may lead to groupism among the farmers at the village level. If that happens, the BJP government will gain from our differences.”

    He said there will be no end to opposing the BJP. “We will oppose BJP and not allow them to enter the villages at all,’’ he said and added that their union was not part of the recent meeting of the 32 unions of Punjab in which it was decided that political parties cannot do early campaigning in Punjab.

    Singh said, “We have requested the parties not to do electioneering now as it will be considered anti-farmer and divert attention from the farmers’ stir. They should do it once the Election Commission notifies the Assembly polls.’’

    All 32 farmers unions, after a meeting with representatives of the parties, said early campaigning would be considered anti-farmer. Other than BJP, all parties were invited. SAD and Congress said they would get back after discussing this with their top leadersship.

  • Navjot Sidhu writes to Punjab CM, seeks action on farmers’ demands

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday wrote to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, seeking action on farmers’ demands including cancellation of “unfair” FIRs registered against growers during their agitation.

    Asserting that Congress stood by farmers’ agitation against the farm laws at every stage, Sidhu, however, asked the state government, “we must do more” and “not let the three black laws be implemented in Punjab at any cost.”

    Sidhu wrote to the chief minister two days after meeting representatives of 32 farm bodies which had raised their demands with him.

    In a meeting with representatives of all political parties except the BJP, the farmer leaders had told them not to carry out electioneering till the Punjab polls are announced.

    In a letter to the CM, Sidhu wrote, “This is to bring to your attention and request for necessary action, upon the demands raised by 32 farmer unions at the meeting called by them.”

    Sidhu said farmer leaders demanded “the cancellation of unjust and unfair” FIRs registered against the farmer unions due to cases of violence during the agitation in the state.”

    Noting that the Congress and the state government provided support to farmers protesting against the Centre’s farm laws, Sidhu said, “Yet, some FIRs have been registered due to untoward incidences,” adding that the government could set up a mechanism to consider each case on compassionate grounds and cancel all “unfair” cases.

    Referring to farmers’ fear of demand for land records by the Centre before the crop procurement, Sidhu asked the state government to fight against the Centre’s “injustice”.

    “I personally believe it is unfair,” said Sidhu, adding that partition of land had not happened in many parts of the state for decades.

    “This is also an attack on the resilient system of procurement by MSP through Arthiyas and to push the farmers away from APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committees) mandis towards private markets where no such records are being demanded.

    Thus, I strongly feel that the Central Govt is actually creating ‘One Nation, Two Markets’ with different rules for APMC and private markets. This injustice we must fight against !,” wrote Sidhu.

    Sidhu also pointed out a hike in budget allocation for agriculture, Rs 7,181 crore of power subsidy, Rs 5,810 crore of farm debt waiver and Rs 520 crore of loan waiver for farm labour and landless farmers.

    “Noting the efficiency of Govt procurement done by the Congress Govt.

    Congress workers and leaders have stood by the farmer agitation at every stage of the protest.

    “Yet, we must do more, standing firmer on our resolution passed in Vidhan Sabha in October 2020, We should not let the three blacks be implemented in our state at any cost !,” he stated.

    Sidhu stressed on procurement of pulses and oilseeds through state corporations to increase farmers’ income.

    “We must take steps ahead from the farmer agitation’s fight against the three black laws to do more and present the vision for Punjab agriculture, to increase Punjab’s farmers’ income using every resource and power we have as a state to stand with the farmers,” he wrote.

    He said, “We must begin procurement of ‘dals’ and oilseeds through state corporations.”

    “Further, invest in diversification with giving MSP on more crops, giving storage capacity in hands of farmers and strengthening farmer’s financial capabilities through cooperatives and forward linkages to trade without dependence on corporates,” he wrote.

  • Karnal farmers call off protest as Haryana govt orders probe into Aug 28 incident

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Saturday ordered a probe into last month’s police action against farmers and sent the IAS officer at the centre of a row between the two sides on leave.

    Following this, the farmers said they would call off their protest outside the Karnal district headquarters.

    The probe will be conducted by a retired judge, Haryana Additional Chief Secretary Devender Singh told the media in Karnal.

    The probe will be completed within a month and former SDM Ayush Sinha will remain on leave during the time, Singh added.

    Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni, who was also part of the press conference, said they would now call off their sit-in outside the Karnal district headquarters.

    The farmers had been demanding the suspension of Sinha, who was caught on tape allegedly telling policemen to “break the heads” of farmers if they cross the line.

    About 10 protesters were hurt in the clash with police in Karnal on August 28 when they tried to march towards the venue of a BJP meeting.

    Devender Singh also announced that jobs would be given to two family members of a farmer, who the protesters claimed had died after he was injured during the lathicharge.

    This allegation was earlier by the administration.

  • Punjab polls: Samyukt Kisan Morcha warns parties against early campaigning

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH:  The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Friday told all political parties that early campaigning for the upcoming Assembly election in Punjab would be considered anti-farmer, as it could divert the attention from their agitation. The farmer fiat came during a meeting with the representatives of all the parties, except the BJP. While most parties agreed, the SAD and the Congress said they would get back to the SKM after discussing the issue with their leaders. 

    After one-on-one meeting with the representatives of all the political parties here, farmers’ leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal and Harinder Singh Lakhowal said: “There is lot of time for electioneering. So, now stop the campaigning and wait till the dates are declared by the Election Commission of India, after which you can campaign.”

    Issuing the fiat, Lakhowal said: “They can attend social functions in villages, but no political function or rally is allowed. The government can organise small functions to distribute cheques for developmental works with a ceiling of 50-100 in attendance, but no big gathering.”

    Stating that the parties should withdraw cases against farmers wherever they are in power, the SKM also put forth a charter of demands, which included bar on seeking land records for direct benefit transfer, sending MPs and MLAs to Delhi to stage protests, among others.

    During the discussions, the SAD representative urged the SKM to retain the national character of the farmers’ agitation by not imposing any restrictions on political activities in Punjab, even as it offered all help to buttress the ongoing agitation on the borders of Delhi.

    Senior SAD leaders Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra and Maheshinder Singh Grewal said: “A conspiracy has been hatched by the Centre to restrict the Kisan movement to Punjab and then suppress it.”

  • Anil Ghanwat interview: ‘Supreme Court should make our report on farm laws public’

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Anil Ghanwat, farmer leader and one of the members of the Supreme Court-constituted committee to study the Central farm laws, says it has been five months since the report was submitted but the top court is silent. Excerpts from the interview:

    What should the government do to end the farmers’ agitation?The Supreme Court constituted a committee of experts and farmer leaders to study the agri laws and submit a comprehensive report that can end the deadlock between the farmers and government. we humbly requested the Supreme Court that the report should be made public so that the farmers and the government will get a clear picture and that may help to end this impasse.

    So, the report will bring a solution and end the deadlock between the farmers and government?We are not claiming our report is 100 per cent right and it should be accepted in totality. 

    What should the Supreme Court do now? The Supreme Court should make our report public. If they were not serious, then why did they constitute the committee in the first place? Why did we toil to prepare the report? Then, questions arise whether it was just a ‘drama’ to set up the committee, ask it to prepare the report and then put it in cold storage?

    What is your view about the Kisan Mahapanchayat at Muzaffarnagar in UP?It is a good thing that the farmers have been continuously protesting to repeal the farm laws. If the’ movement takes a political turn, then it will lose steam. 

  • Farmers’ protest: Talks with officials ‘fail’, leaders gather in Karnal for mahapanchayat

    By PTI

    KARNAL: Farmers in large numbers gathered here for a mahapanchayat as the local authorities braced themselves for a possible gherao of the district headquarters by protesters after talks between farm leaders and officials appeared to yield no result.

    Farmer unions had demanded action against officials over the lathi-charge against protesters on August 28 in Karnal.

    Otherwise, they had threatened, farmers will lay siege on the Karnal mini-secretariat.

    ​ALSO READ | Farmers protest: Supreme Court rejects petition against blockade at Singhu border

    As farmers gathered for the mahapanchayat, an 11-member delegation was invited by the local administration to discuss their demands and dissuade them from marching towards the secretariat.

    “The administration did not agree to our demands,” Haryana Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) leader Gurnam Singh Chaduni told reporters three hours after the talks began.

    He said the talks had failed to yield results.

    “Now, the next course of action will be decided at the mahapanchayat,” he said when asked if the protesters will go ahead with their plan to gherao the district headquarters, a few kilometres away.

    ​ALSO READ | Punjab parties reach out to farmers to stop entry ban in villages

    BKU leader Rakesh Tikait told reporters that they had demanded the suspension of the IAS officer who was caught on tape allegedly telling policemen to “break heads” of protesting farmers if they crossed the line.

    Rakesh Tikait, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Darshan Pal and Yogendra Yadav were among the senior Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders who had reached Karnal for the rally being held days after a huge mahapanchayat in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar.

    Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting for months over the three farm laws enacted at the Centre, claiming that the legislation will lead to the erosion of the minimum support price (MSP) system.

    Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, Karnal’s Inspector General of Police Mamta Singh and Superintendent of Police Ganga Ram Punia, were among the officials who took part in the talks with the farm leaders.

  • SC refuses to entertain plea for opening of Singhu border, asks Sonipat residents to move HC

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea filed by residents of Sonipat seeking opening of the roads connecting Delhi and Haryana at Singhu border here, which have been blocked by farmers protesting against three agri laws and asked the petitioners to approach the High Court.

    A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, Vikram Nath and Hima Kohli said that the petitioners has the freedom to approach the high court and state administration is also amenable to the directions of the high court to deal with maintaining a balance between freedom to protest and the freedom to access of basic amenities.

    It allowed the petition to be withdrawn and granted liberty to them to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

    The top court said that the invitation to interfere is very tempting but there are High Courts, which can deal with the local issues.

    “Suppose, tomorrow there is a border dispute between Karnataka and Kerala or some other states. There will be no end to this. This court shall not be the first recourse. High Courts are there to deal with local problems. We have a robust system in place,” the bench said.

    At the outset, advocate Abhimanyu Bhandari, appearing for petitioners Jai Bhagwan and Jagbir Singh Chhikara, both residents of Sonipat, said that Singhu Border is like an “umbilical cord” for people of the city as it connects Delhi and Haryana but due to blockade this is hampering their right to movement.

    He said that petitioners are not against peaceful protest by farmers and they have nothing to do with three farm laws against which they are protesting.

    The bench said, “Why don’t you approach the High court being resident of Sonipat? Why is this petition filed here for publicity? There is no need for us to intervene when high courts are well versed with the local conditions and the problems you all are facing.

    We should trust our High Courts”.

    Bhandari said that a coordinate bench of this court has recently passed an order with regard to the UP Gate protest in which the top court had asked the Centre to find a solution to the problem, so that no inconvenience is caused to the common people due to blockade of interstate roads.

    “At least allow opening of one side of the highway so that people can move in case of any kind of emergency,” he said.

    The plea filed through advocate Roohina Dua said that farmers at Singhu border here are protesting against three farm bills–Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

    “Pertinently, on account of the said bills, thousands of farmers have been protesting since late November of 2020 at the Delhi borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh whereby they are demanding a rollback of the three laws”, the plea said.

    The petition said that even though the protests have been largely peaceful, the three primary locations of farmer protests are Ghazipur Border, Singhu Border, and Tikri Border, have been blocked by the protesters, thereby preventing free flow of traffic for the common people, residents, patients and those in need of medical support.

    “The highway at Singhu Border between Delhi and Sonipat in Haryana has been blocked by the protesters since November last year which has caused immense hardship to the people, residents, patients and those in need of medical support of Sonipat which is a district in close proximity to Delhi,” it said.

    The plea said that due to COVID-19 the country has faced an unprecedented rise in the number of positive cases as well as the number of consequential deaths on account of the virus.

    “This wave of the pandemic has not only increased the number of people affected by the virus exponentially, but has also created a situation where the essential basic medical facilities, including the availability of hospital beds and treatment medication are found to be lacking in a number of districts especially in Sonipat and other adjoining districts,” it said.

    The petitioners further said that the areas around Delhi, especially districts such as Sonipat faced an unprecedented rise in cases during the second wave.

    “Furthermore, since a majority portion of the district has a rural background, the ground reality of the COVID positive cases is much more than what is being reflected in the official government reporting,” the plea said.

    The petitioners sought directions to the concerned authorities to open the Singhu Border of Delhi (Sonepat-Delhi) and direction to temporarily shift the protestors at an allotted place for the free flow of traffic.

    Initially, the protests started from Punjab in November last year and later spread to Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and some other parts of the country.

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  • Congress voices support for ‘kisan mahapanchayat’, Rahul says ‘unjust government’ will have to listen

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday voiced support for the ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar with party leader Rahul Gandhi saying the call of truth is echoing and an “unjust government” will have to listen.

    Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the “arrogance of power” cannot withstand the roar of the farmers.

    Thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states on Sunday gathered in Muzaffarnagar for the ‘kisan mahapanchayat’ aimed at what they called “saving the country”, just months ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

    The event was organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) at the Government Inter College ground in Muzaffarnagar in protest against the Centre’s contentious farm laws.

    “The call of truth is echoing. You have to listen, unjust government!” Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi.

    Priyanka Gandhi also voiced support for the mahapanchayat, saying, “Farmers are the voice of this country. Farmers are the pride of the country. Arrogance of any power cannot withstand the roar of the farmers.”

    The whole country is with the farmers in the fight to save agriculture and in demanding their dues in lieu of their hard work, the Congress general secretary said.

    Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said those stealing the farms of farmers are traitors.

    Voicing support for the mahapanchayat, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed confidence that the mahapanchayat organised under the leadership of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha will prove to be giving strength to the farmers’ interests.

    “May this mahapanchayat prove to be a milestone in the direction of a peaceful farmers’ movement,” Pilot said in a tweet in Hindi.

    The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an amalgam of several farmer unions, has been spearheading the agitation against the farm laws since last year.

    The government has insisted that these laws have given farmers new opportunity to sell their produce and rejected the criticism that they are aimed at doing away with the minimum support price regime and farm mandis.

  • Need to start re-engaging with protesting farmers, understand their pain: Varun Gandhi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Sunday described farmers, who have been protesting against three farm laws, as “our own flesh and blood” and suggested that the government should re-engage with them in reaching common ground.

    A large number of farmers are attending a mahapanchayat organised by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) at the Government Inter College ground in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

    “Lakhs of farmers have gathered in protest today in Muzaffarnagar.  They are our own flesh and blood. We need to start re-engaging with them in a respectful manner: understand their pain, their point of view and work with them in reaching common ground,” Gandhi tweeted, posting a short video of the large crowd.

    The mahapanchyat comes ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly polls next year.

    The Centre had held talks with the protesting farmer unions but in vain as it did not agree to their demand of withdrawing the three farm laws.

    The government has insisted that these Acts have given farmers new opportunity to sell their produce and rejected the criticism that they are aimed at doing away with the minimum support price regime and farm mandis.

  • ‘Will force our way if they stop us’: Farmers’ mahapanchayat in UP on September 5 

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The preparations are complete for the show of strength by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of farmers protesting against the centre’s three farm laws, by organising a mahapanchayat in Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

    In an election year, the SKM intends to use the mahapanchayat to mobilise people against the ruling dispensation in western UP. The SKM is likely to announce ‘Mission UP’ at the Muzaffarnagar mahapanchayat.

    “This mahapanchayat is not just linked to elections. In UP, farmers are facing hardship. Besides the power tariffs, the sugarcane price hasn’t gone up since last 2016. The Centre has increased it by five rupees, five paise per kilogram. Are you insulting farmers?” Rakesh Tikait said.

    As per the BKU claims, around 300 active organisations of farmers, labourers, employees, students, teachers, women, and social groups are expected to attend the mahapanchayat.

    Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said that it was impossible to quote the number of people who would reach for the mahapanchayat. “But I can promise people will reach in huge numbers,” Tikait said.

    Further, he added that no one could stop the farmers from reaching the mahapanchayat, and if they were stopped, they would force their way to the venue.

    ALSO READ | Farmers see plot as parties get into poll mode

    As per the BKU sources, so far, representatives from 22 states had sent their confirmation to attend the event. “In the mahapanchayat, maximum farmers from UP, Punjab, Harayana, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand will take part,” said Tikait.

    Around 2,000 farmers are expected to reach Muzaffarnagar from Punjab. From protest sites at the Delhi borders, 400-500 farmers will leave for the mahapanchayat. The farmers are leaving in shifts in buses from Tikri and Ghazipur borders.

    However, people were mainly coming from the villages, said Tikait. Farmers from Maharashtra and others parts of India are also expected to join in.

    A total of 500 buses have been hired to transport farmers to Muzaffarnagar.

    Farmers will be holding 18 such mahapanchayats in Uttar Pradesh in the first phase of their campaign.

    According to SKM sources, some 5,000 volunteers were entrusted with a smooth movement so the farmers reach the maidans for the mahapanchayat on Sunday.

    “All arrangements have been made. We will have to see who all are able to reach the main site. We have arranged 12-14 screens and 4-5 fields for those who are unable to reach there due to the crowd. Roads and parking areas will be jammed,” Rakesh Tikait said.

    However, the district administration is also alert and six companies of the provincial armed constabulary (PAC) and two companies of rapid action force (RAF) will be deployed for the mahapanchayat in Muzaffarnagar on Sunday.

    According to Saharanpur range DOG Preetinder Singh, the event would be videographed while five SSPs, seven ASPs, and 40 police inspectors will be deployed on security duty.