News Analysis India

Tag: Farmers union

  • Onus on you to resume talks: Farm body in lettter to PM Modi

    Express News Service
    CHANDIGARH:  The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of over 40 protesting farmer unions, on Friday wrote to PM Narendra Modi, urging resumption of talks over the three farm laws they have been agitating against at Delhi borders since last year. 

    Morcha leaders Balbir Singh Rajewal and Darshan Pal said the letter touched upon several aspects of the farmers’ movement, and the “ignorant attitude” of the government. The morcha, in a statement, said while the protesting farmers do not wish to expose anyone to the health hazards of the Covid-19 pandemic, it “cannot also give up on the struggle, as it is a matter of life and death, and also of future generations”.  

    “Any democratic government would have repealed the three laws that have been rejected by the farmers in whose name these were enacted, and seized the opportunity to provide a legal guarantee of MSP to all farmers… as the Head of the government of the largest democracy in the world, the onus of resuming a serious and sincere dialogue with the farmers lies with you,” the letter reads.

    Several rounds of talks between farmers and the government have failed to break the deadlock over the Central legislations. A government panel had met farmer leaders on January 22. There have been no talks between the two sides since January 26 when the farmers’ tractor rally in the national capital turned violent. “The SKM has always reiterated its resolve and faith in peaceful mass struggles and democratic solutions through dialogue.

    During the first two months of the struggle, the government held 11 rounds of discussions with us in which we extended full cooperation in good faith, despite the repression and defamation unleashed by your government against the movement. Yet the government failed to address the bare minimum demands of the protesting farmers,’’ it reads.

    The farmers’ body had recently announced to observe May 26 as ‘black day’ to mark six months of their protest at Delhi borders. Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal had appealed to people to raise black flags at their houses, vehicles and shops on May 26 to protest against the contentious farm legislations.

  • Protesters in Shahjahanpur border vow to continue stir till farm laws are ‘repealed’

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Farmers continued to protest at Shahjahanpur border in Rajasthan’s Alwar district on Friday, vowing to continue the agitation till the farm laws are repealed.

    On the same day, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MP Hanuman Beniwal staged a walk out from Lok Sabha demanding the repeal of the farm laws.

    Beniwal”s party was an ally of the NDA government at Centre and had announced separation over the demand to repeal the laws.

    Meanwhile, Kisan Mahapanchayat leader Rampal Jat announced their separation with the Sanyukt Morcha, but said he would continue the protest.

    ​ALSO READ | Bhim Army chief meets Rakesh Tikait at Ghazipur border, offers help to strengthen farmers’ protest

    “It seems that a conspiracy was hatched by the government as it is a fact that the persons who instigated the farmers on Republic Day have not been arrested,” Jat said.

    The farmers’ rally will continue across all the districts, but not on roads, he added.

    Beniwal showed a placard and raised slogans demanding repeal of the laws during the President’s address in Parliament and later staged a walk out.

    “The Centre should withdraw the laws or else this public movement would intensify. The farmers are protesting without any violence so their demands should be fulfilled. The RLP had supported the NDA in view that would listen to farmers and youth, but to no avail,” he said.

    The RLP condemns what happened at Red Fort, he added.

    All India Kisan Sabha vice president Amra Ram said those who hoisted flag at Red Fort were not part of the Sanyukt Morcha.

    ALSO WATCH:

    “The government is suppressing voice of farmers. But, we will continue our protest. We will keep a day-long fast on Saturday. Our sit-in protest will continue till the demands are met,” he said.

    In Bharatpur, farmers led by Manudev Sinsini staged protests, raised slogans and burnt effigy of the government at the Centre.

    The farmers gathered at the power house in favour of farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, who is protesting in Ghazipur.

    “Farmers will gather in next three days and thereafter start a tractor rally for Delhi on February 1 to join others participating in the protest. The farmers are 65 of the population of the country and are capable to teach lesson to the government,” he said.

  • Farmers to hold ‘Sadbhavna Diwas’ on January 30, observe day-long fast

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Farmers protesting against the Centre’s new agri laws will observe ‘Sadbhavna Diwas’ on Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary on January 30 and hold a day-long fast, farm union leaders said on Friday.

    Addressing a press conference at Delhi’s Singhu border, the farmer leaders said the fast will be held from 9 AM to 5 PM and appealed to the people of the country to join them.

    ​ALSO READ | Farmers’ protest: Haryana govt orders suspension of internet services in 14 more districts

    The farmer leaders also slammed the ruling BJP at the Centre and accused it of trying to “destroy” the “peaceful” agitation against the agri laws.

    “The conspiracy of the ruling BJP to destroy this farmers’ movement is now exposed to all,” he said .

    The farmer leaders also asserted that the number of agitators at all the prominent protest venues – Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri – is swelling after the police allegedly tried to remove farmer leader Rakesh Tikait from Ghazipur border on Thursday night.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • Farmer union moves SC, seeks panel reconstitution

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  A farmer union on Saturday urged the Supreme Court to remove the remaining three members of the committee constituted to resolve the impasse over the three contentious farm laws, and asked the court to choose new people for the commitee who can do the job “on basis of mutual harmony”.

    The Bhartiya Kisan Union Lokshakti cited the principle of natural justice to make is going to be violated as those appointed to the four-member committee “have already supported these laws”.

    The farmer union, in an affidavit, also sought dismissal of a plea of the central government, filed though the Delhi Police, seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor march or any other kind of protest by farmers which seeks to disrupt the gathering and celebrations of Republic Day on January 26.

    “It is important to mention here with great regret that the principle of natural justice is going to be violated by making these persons as members of the committee…. how they will hear all farmers on equal parameters when they have already supported these laws,” stated the affidavit filed by the farmer union.

    On the issue of the Delhi Police seeking injunction against the tractor rally, it said prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 were already in place in the New Delhi area. The Bhartiya Kisan Union Lokshakti is one of the 40-odd farmer unions spearheading the agitation on various border points of Delhi for about 50 days now.

  • Supreme Court has no role in resolving ‘political deadlock’ over new laws: Farmers’ union

    The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee alleged that the government is using the Supreme Court #39;as a political shield #39;.