News Analysis India

Tag: msp

  • ‘Farmers will wage fierce battle if there is no law on MSP’: Satya Pal Malik

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday said the farmers’ movement is not over yet and that they will wage a “fierce battle” against the government if it does not bring a law on minimum support price (MSP).

    Speaking at a Jat community programme here, Malik said he will also join the movement once he completes his term as Meghalaya governor.

    Malik has targeted the government several times in the recent past over farmers’ issues.

    “The farmers’ movement is not over yet, it was the dharna which ended. If a law on MSP is not made, then the farmers will wage a fierce battle against the country’s government,” Malik said.

    He said only four months of his tenure as Meghalaya governor are left and he will also join the movement once he completes his term.

    Malik said when the farmers were protesting against the farm laws, he went to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and told him that atrocities were being committed against them.

    He claimed he suggested to the prime minister that he should settle the matter with the farmers but Modi told him that they will end the dharna on their own.

    “I said that they (farmers) will go only after you (PM) are gone,” he added.

    Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, laid siege at Delhi borders in November 2020 demanding that the Centre withdraw its three contentious farm laws.

    The protest ended in December 2021 after the government withdrew the farm laws.

    Hitting out at the Adani Group, Malik asked Modi how the conglomerate is getting richer at a time when the common people are getting destroyed.

    Malik has repeatedly made headlines for his criticism of the Modi government.

    Last month, he said the government hadn’t fulfilled the promises it made to farmers in December last year.

    Withdrawal of cases lodged against farmers during their agitation against the farm laws, legal guarantee on MSP and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the course of the protest were some of the protesters’ demands that the government had agreed to consider before they ended their dharna.

    In January, Malik said when he went to meet Modi on the issue of farmers, the latter was “arrogant” and he had a fight with the prime minister within five minutes.

  • CM Mann announces MSP on Moong pulses for Punjab farmers

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: Assuring that the Punjab Government would purchase Summer Moong Pulse on the Minimum Support Price (MSP), Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today asked farmers to go in for moong-cultivation.

    In a video message here today Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, “The state government has taken a big decision on Moong Dal. In fifty-five days Moong crop is ready for cultivation if the farmers sow it on May 10, May 15 or May 20, then between July 10 and July 20 it will be ready. We announce to procure it on Minimum Support Price (MSP). The farmers who opt for moong cultivation now can go in for cultivation of late growing of paddy variety PR 126 or basmati thus they get an extra crop between paddy and wheat.”

    The Moong cultivation provides farmers with an opportunity to have a third crop in a year. Moreover, moong being a leguminous crop is beneficial for the soil as it helps in nitrogen fixation and contributes to improving soil fertility.

    This year till April 2 in around 3,000 hectors Summer Moong Pulse has been sown and last year in 5,000 hectors (12,000 acres) only in summer and kharif seasons as it is grown across the state. While last year the union government announced an MSP of Rs 7,275 per quintal of moong but was sold above for Rs 7,500 per quintal. While the input cost would be around Rs 8,000 to Rs 9,000 per acre including seed, labour, and other expenditure. In this season the government is persuading the farmers to grow moong dal in at least 50,000 acres. As the yield of this crop is four to five quintals per acre. With the promise of buying the crop at the MSP, the government will be giving a major push to its cultivation.

    Sources said that as of now the state grows 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of pulses per year against the requirement of six lakh tonnes, which is around 10 per cent of the total consumption in the state. The rest 90 per cent are imported from other states.

    Also, the farmers this time are opting for the PR 126 variety of seed for paddy as 2,600 quintals of this variety were developed by Punjab Agriculture University at Ludhiana and are being sold at Rs 140 per kg against the price of Rs 65 per kg. Due to the late sowing of late varieties of paddy, around 15 to 20 per cent less watering will be required.

    This is the second big announcement by the state government on the agricultural front. Last week, CM Mann had announced to give Rs 1,500 per acre as a subsidy to those going in for direct seeding of rice. 

  • Wheat procurement & lifting impacted in Punjab, 18 farmers have committed suicide so far

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: The procurement operation of wheat this season in Punjab has been impacted as till yesterday different central and state government agencies, including the Food Corporation of India have purchased only 85.98 Metric Tonnes (MT) going by the trend it does not seem the state will archive it’s target, as the wheat arrivals have gone down in grain markets across the state this is due to shrivelled grain problem as no decision has been taken by the Union Government till now on giving relaxation, also farmers are holding back the crop expecting surge in prices later on as global wheat is increasing due to Russia-Ukraine war and private player purchasing the crop above Minimum Support Price (MSP). 

    Also this season till yesterday only 62.81 per cent of wheat has been lifted. Thus approximately eighteen farmers have committed suicide to date across the state this month alone due to low yield on wheat.

    As per the data with the state food and supplies department as of April 25 the total wheat procurement was 90.61 MT of this government agency purchased 85.98 MT and private traders 4.62 MT. From 2009-10 till last year, the highest private purchase was in 2014-15 which was 2.9 LMT which was 2.4 per cent. While last year also the picture as almost similar as on April 25 it was 84.17 LMT of that84.15LMT was purchased by government agencies and only 2,376 KG by private players.

     The target fixed by the Food Corporation of India for 2022-23 for Punjab is 132 lakh MT as 132.22 LMT wheat was procured in 2021-22. Going by the trend it does not seem the state will archive it’s target as it seems it will remain around 100 LMT.

    A senior official of the department said that this time the farmers are holding back wheat as they are expecting high prices after few day or months as the prices of the grain are increasing in the global markets. So they are not bringing their crop to the grain market. Also the private players this time arepurchasing more wheat from the farmers and paying them more than the Minimum Reserveprice (MSP) as they are giving them Rs 2,025 per tonne against the MSP of Rs 2,015 per quintal. The main factor is the wheat grain is shrivelled by 10 to 20 per cent thus yield of wheat is also low.

    While this time the lifting is also slow as 62.81 per cent as  51.16 lakh MT of wheat has been lifted and 30.30 MT is yet to be lifted as of yesterday by different central and state government agencies from the 2,321-grain markets and procurements centres across Punjab.

    The main reason for slow lifting is that the contracts for transportation and labour were allotted during the term of the previous government and it is alleged that the contractors who did not have the requisite number of trucks and labour for the job were given these contracts.

    ALSO READ: Wheat procurement from Punjab expected to remain below 100 lakh MT

    “If we compare with last year, the pace of lifting this year is almost similar. Every year for a few days when there is a glut in mandis within few days, the entire stock will be lifted and shifted to godowns,” said an official.

    A senior officer of FCI said that they are waiting for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to take a decision on relaxing specifications, following which they will lift the grain. Even the direct delivery of wheat to the FCI is stalled till this issue is resolved.

    This month eighteen suicides have been reported to date across Punjab due to the low yield of wheat of these 11 in malwa region. As per the data gathered by BKU (Ugrahan) the largest farmer union of Punjab, fourteen farmers have committed suicide in different parts of Punjab till date this month.

    “On April 18, 38-year-old Ramandeep Singh of Bajak village in Bathinda died as he consumedpesticide on April 14 due to the low yield of the grain. While Gurdeep Singh (28) of Mansa Khurd village in Bathinda hanged himself and Jaspal Singh of Maiserkhana village also in Bathinda jumped before the train on April 20 and Randhir Singh of Bhagivander villagen also Bathinda district was found dead in a pound. Manjit Singh of Paddi Sura Singh village in Hoshiarpur district consumed position on April 23. All these farmers committed suicide due to the low yield of wheat and the government should give Rs 10 lakh per family as compensation,’’ claimed Sukhdev Singh General Secretary of BKU (Ugrahan).

    Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has appealed to the Union Government to relax the specifications for shriveled grains in the purchase of wheat in the state without the imposition of any value cut, thereby protecting the incomes of the farmers who are already impacted by low yield and severe farm debt.

    He said that despite the passage of one week since the central teams, deputed by the Ministry of Food and  Public Distribution, completed their task and submitted their report to the ministry highlighting the extent of shriveling of the grain, no decision has been taken by the Union Government. He emphasized that farming issues are required to be resolved on high priority and the delay isimpacting the procurement operations.

    BOX: Input Costs High The input costs have gone up as fertiliser,  pesticides, seeds, and diesel needed to operate tubewells and tractors have shot up substantially this year. The prices of diammonium phosphate (DAP) have increased from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,350 per 50 kg.

  • No one raises issue of hiking MSP for sugarcane out of fear: BJP MP Varun Gandhi

    By PTI

    BAREILLY/PILIBHIT: BJP MP from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi claimed on Tuesday that he is the only one who raises the issue of increasing the MSP for sugarcane, while other MPs and MLAs do not have the courage to talk about it.

    He said his party colleagues do not raise such issues as they fear that they will not be given poll tickets.

    Interacting with villagers, the MP, who was on a two-day tour of the Baheri Assembly constituency in Bareilly (a part of the Pilibhit Lok Sabha segment), said barring him, no other MLA or MP from the ruling party has the courage to raise the issue of increasing the MSP for sugarcane.

    “Those leaders fear that they will not get (poll) tickets. If the voice of the people is not raised by the public representatives, then who will raise it? It makes no difference to me if I do not get a poll ticket. My mother has won elections as an Independent candidate. I will only say the truth. Governments come and go,” he said.

    Varun Gandhi also said he is a “revolutionary” leader and cannot see injustice being done to people.

    His mother Maneka Gandhi had won the 1998 and 1999 Lok Sabha polls from Pilibhit as an Independent candidate.

    The Pilibhit MP said whatever help he extends to people, it is from his own money, be it giving sports equipment to youngsters in villages or giving financial assistance to temples.

    Meanwhile, in a letter to Pilibhit District Magistrate Pulkit Khare, Varun Gandhi alleged that money is being extorted from traders for the “Baansuri Mahotsav” (flute festival) being organised in the district.

    However, the district magistrate has not reacted so far on the issue.

    Traders have alleged that the local administration has taken money from them to organise the festival.

    The BJP MP said the traders met him in Delhi recently and briefed him on the issue.

    He shared the letter with the media on Tuesday.

    Varun Gandhi also made an offer to give a cheque for Rs 4.5 lakh to the traders at the event.

    Addressing the traders, he said, “I am strongly against the practice of organising such events while banking on traders. Traders at this point in time are in a very bad shape. I and my mother have always considered the people of Pilibhit as our family members.”

    In the letter, Varun Gandhi has said putting an additional burden on traders, who have already been hit by COVID-19 and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), is like committing atrocities on them.

  • Vijay Diwas: After year-long protest, victorious farmers begin journey back home

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: More than a year after they arrived in large convoys of tractors, several protesting farmers on Saturday morning began returning to their home states, taking with them a victory to cherish and memories of a successful siege at Delhi’s borders.

    The farmers lifted blockades on highways at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders and took out a ‘Victory March’ to celebrate the repeal of three contentious farm laws and the Centre’s written assurance to fulfil their other demands, including constituting a committee for legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

    Emotions ran high as the farmers set off for their homes in different states, including Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, after a successful movement.

    Tractors bedecked with colourful lights rolled out of the protest sites blaring songs of victory while the elderly flaunted their colourful turbans and danced with youngsters.

    “Singhu border had become our home for the last one year. This movement united us (farmers) all as we fought together against the black farm laws irrespective of caste, creed and religion. This is a historic moment and the victorious result of the movement is even bigger,” said Kuljeet Singh Aulakh, a farmer from Moga in Punjab, as he embraced his fellow farmers before starting his journey back home.

    Jitender Chaudhary, a farmer at Ghazipur border, was busy preparing his tractor-trolley to go back home in Muzaffarnagar of western Uttar Pradesh.

    He said that he is going home with hundreds of good memories and victory against the “black” farm laws.

    “We are fortunate that we participated in a historic movement against the three farm laws imposed on us by the central government. We have made new friends and gained a different experience here during the agitation,” Chaudhary said.

    The farmers are celebrating December 11 as ‘Vijay Diwas’.

    Thousands of farmers had been protesting at the borders of the national capital since November 26 last year to demand the repeal of the three farm laws.

    On November 29, a bill was passed in Parliament to repeal the laws, one of the main demands of the farmers.

    However, the farmers refused to end their protest, demanding that the government fulfil their other demands that included legal guarantee on MSP and withdrawal of police cases against them.

    As the Centre accepted the pending demands, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 40 farm unions spearheading the stir, on Thursday decided to suspend the farmers’ movement and announced that farmers will go back home on December 11 from the protest sites at Delhi borders.

    Farmer leaders said that they will again meet on January 15 to see if the government has fulfilled their demands.

    Parliament passed a bill on November 29 to repeal the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and the Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

  • Farmers’ distrust of govt will not go away with one rollback, says Congress leader Sachin Pilot

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The BJP’s bypoll losses and a “looming bad performance” in the upcoming assembly polls led to the announcement of repealing the farm laws, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Tuesday, asserting that there will be “consequences” for the ruling party in the elections as farmers’ “distrust” of the government will not go away with one rollback.

    The former Rajasthan deputy chief minister said the government should not only ensure a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) as demanded by farmers but must also provide a regulation or a law ensuring that procurement takes place.

    In an interview with PTI, Pilot said no matter what the government does now, it is “far too late” to erase from the farmers’ minds the suffering caused during the farm laws agitation.

    “In Indian history, such a long agitation by the farming community which lasted for a year, has not been seen. If they had to rollback (the laws) then what was the need to waste lives and livelihoods, so much damage was caused, farmers were called naxalites, separatists, even terrorists and some of the ministers’ kin even mowing down people,” the former Union minister said.

    If that much animosity was there then what prompted the government to withdraw the laws, Pilot asked rhetorically and added that, “obviously there were political considerations”.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced his government’s decision to repeal the three farm laws over which the farmers have been protesting over the past year on Delhi’s borders, urging them to return to their homes.

    ALSO READ: Loyalists gain but Sachin Pilot’s role in Rajasthan still unclear

    Pilot alleged that there was no discussion held with the farmers’ unions before announcing the laws, which were imposed upon with “brute majority” in Parliament and then “shoved down the throat of farmers”.

    They have been withdrawn now but more needs to be done as there has been a “kind of breakdown of trust” between the government and the farmers which is “damaging” for future dispensations also, the Congress leader said.

    “They (farmers) will always view the government with suspicion. We owe our farmers who feed this country a lot more,” he asserted.

    Asked about the farmers’ demand for a law guaranteeing MSP, Pilot said the mere announcement of MSP even if it is made into law will not be adequate as there is also a need to make some regulation or laws for procurement.

    “What happens today is that you announce the MSP but there is no guarantee of procurement. If you want to really benefit the farmers then you have to ensure adequate and appropriate procurement, that is the key,” he said.

    If the farmers are demanding a law and regulation for MSP, it is a genuine demand and the government should act to fulfil it, he said.

    “I am going a step further. I am saying the announcement and guarantee of MSP is important but the government should also ensure procurement happens. A legal guarantee for MSP is only effective if there is a proportionate regulation and law for procurement also,” Pilot said.

    The government must invite the farmers to discuss their issues and not just look at the election cycle for rollbacks as it must think about their genuine good, he said.

    Pilot also called for accountability for the “losses” people suffered both physically and monetarily during the farm laws protests.

    The “distrust” created in the farming community’s mind will not go away with one rollback, he asserted.

    “Obviously the bypoll losses and the looming bad performance of the BJP in the upcoming polls in five states was certainly the consideration that led the government to withdraw the farm laws,” Pilot said.

    Asked if the step would benefit the BJP in the polls, he said, “I think the minister of state for home (Ajay Mishra) has not resigned, cases slapped on farmers still exist, people who lost dear ones, how can they forget the year that has gone by. There will be consequences.”

    However, he added, “I don’t think we should politicise the farmers’ movement but ultimately people of India know that these laws were imposed not to help farmers but other interest groups.”

    Digging in their heels, farmer unions on Sunday had said they will continue their agitation till the government starts talks with them on their six demands, including a law guaranteeing MSP and the arrest of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, even as the Centre prepared to bring bills in Parliament to repeal its three agri laws.

    Mishra’s son was arrested in the case of the death of four protesting farmers in an incident in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh in October.

  • Ceasefire by government and not farmers, says Rakesh Tikait demanding resumption of talks on MSP and other issues

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Monday hit out at the government, accusing it of trying to divide the farmers, and said it should talk to them to resolve their issues or else “we are not going away”.

    The farmer leader also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should give a clear answer on the demand for a law guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) that he had “supported” when he was the chief minister.

    “It took one year for us to make them understand. We said our things in our own language but those sitting in shining bungalows in Delhi had another language,” Tikait said, addressing a mahapanchayat called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of the agitating farmer unions, on the MSP issue.

    “They understood in one year that these laws are harmful and took the laws back. They did the right thing by withdrawing the laws but tried to divide farmers by saying that they failed to make some people understand the laws. We are some people,” Tikait said.

    He was referring to Prime Minister Modi’s apology while announcing the decision on Friday to withdraw the three central farm laws against which the SKM was agitating.

    Tikait said that a “sangharsh-vishram” (ceasefire) has been declared by the government and not farmers and that there are many issues before the peasants.

    “The struggle will continue. The government should talk to farmers about the issues related to them or else we are not going to go away. Meetings will be held all over the country and we will tell the people about your work,” he said.

    Talks between the government and the agitating unions over the three farm laws were stalled in January after nearly a dozen rounds of discussions failed to break the deadlock.

    Urging people to join the farmers’ movement, Tikait said, “They will entangle you all in Hindu-Muslim, Hindu-Sikh and Jinnah and will keep selling the country.”

    Despite the climbdown by the government, farmer unions said on Sunday they will continue their agitation till it starts talks with them on their six other demands, including a law guaranteeing MSP and the arrest of Union Minister Ajay Mishra.

    Tikait said farmers will not get the right rate of their produce by apology but by framing a policy and contested the claim that a committee has been made for MSP.

    He claimed that as chief minister of Gujarat Modi was part of a committee that had suggested to the then prime minister Manmohan Singh that a law guaranteeing MSP was required.

    “The report of this committee is lying in the PMO. There is no new committee required nor the country has more time,” Tikait said.

    “Give a clear answer, the prime minister will have to give a clear answer before the country whether he will accept the suggestion of the committee he was a part of for MSP guarantee law,” he said.

    He also attacked the media saying that since the past three days they have only been questioning the farmers.

    “We have many issues including the one related to the farmers who lost their lives during the agitation,” he said.

    Among the demands made by SKM are, withdrawal of cases against farmers, building a memorial for the protesters who lost their lives during the agitation and withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill.

  • Ahead of Lucknow Mahapanchayat, SKM writes to PM, seeks resumption of talks on MSP

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW: Digging in their heels, farmer unions said on Sunday they will continue their agitation till the government starts talks with them on their six demands, including a law guaranteeing MSP and the arrest of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, even as the Centre prepared to bring bills in Parliament to repeal its three agri laws.

    The agitation spearhead, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), also said the farmers would go ahead with their planned protests, including a mahapanchayat in Lucknow on Monday to press for a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and a march to Parliament on November 29 to observe one year of anti-farm law protests.

    The umbrella body of agitating farm unions took the decision at its first meeting after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on Friday announced that the three farm laws will be repealed, fulfilling a major demand of the agitating farmers.

    Government sources said on Sunday the Union Cabinet is likely to take up for approval on Wednesday the bills for rescinding the three farm laws so that they are introduced in the forthcoming winter session.

    In an open letter to Prime Minister Modi, the SKM thanked him for the repeal of the three farm laws, but noted that “after 11 rounds of talks, you chose the path of unilateral declaration rather than a bilateral solution”.

    They put forwards six demands including that MSP based on the comprehensive cost of production be made a legal entitlement of all farmers for all agricultural produce, sacking and arrest of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra in connection with Lakhimpur Kheri incident, withdrawal of cases against farmers and building of a memorial for those who lost their lives during the agitation.

    Mishra’s son was arrested in connection with the death of four protesting farmers in an incident in Lakhimpur Kheri in UP in October.

    While thanking Modi for his decision, the SKM, in the letter, said, “After 11 rounds of talks, you chose the path of unilateral declaration rather than a bilateral solution.”

    “MSP based on the comprehensive cost of production should be made a legal entitlement of all farmers for all agricultural produce so that every farmer of the country can be guaranteed the MSP announced by the government for their entire crop. Withdraw the draft ‘Electricity Amendments Bill, 2020/2021’,” the letter read.

    It also sought removal of penal provisions against farmers in the ‘Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021’.

    The SKM’s demands included the sacking and arrest of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, whose son is an accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

    Four farmers were allegedly mowed down by an SUV in the Lakhimpur Kheri district, the native place of the Union minister on October 3.

    In the ensuing violence, four people, including a journalist and two BJP workers, were also killed.

    Over a dozen people, including the minister’s son Ashish Mishra, have been arrested so far in the case.

    The letter to the prime minister stated, “Thousands of farmers have been implicated in hundreds of cases during this movement (June 2020 till date) in Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh and several other states. These cases should be withdrawn immediately.”

    “During this movement, about 700 farmers have died. There should be compensation and rehabilitation support for their families. Land should be allotted at the Singhu Border to build a memorial for the deceased farmers,” it stated.

    The SKM warned that the agitation will continue till the government resumes talks with it over the six issues listed in the letter.

    “Prime minister, you have appealed to the farmers that we should now go back home. We want to assure you that we are not fond of sitting on the streets. We too desire to return to our homes, families and farming after resolving these issues as soon as possible.”

    “If you want the same, then the government should immediately resume talks with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on the six issues. Till then, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha will continue this movement,” they said.

    They also sought removal of penal provisions on farmers in the “Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act 2021” and withdrawal the draft “Electricity Amendments Bill, 2020/2021” proposed by the government “Prime Minister, you have appealed to the farmers that now we should go back home. We want to assure you that we are not fond of sitting on the streets. We too desire that after resolving these other issues as soon as possible, we return to our homes, families and farming.

    “‘If you want the same, then the government should immediately resume talks with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on the above six issues. Till then, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha will continue this movement,” the letter said.

    Seeking withdrawal of the three laws, agitating farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are camping at three sites on Delhi’s borders since November last year and have said they will stay put until all their demands are met.

    Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said at a press conference at the Singhu border of Delhi, one of the anti-farm law protest sites, that the SKM will again hold a meeting on November 27 to decide the future course of action.

    ”We discussed the repeal of farm laws. SKM’s pre-decided programmes will continue. Kisan panchayat will be held in Lucknow on November 22, gatherings at all borders on November 26 and march to Parliament on November 29,” he said.

    The opposition parties blamed the government for the situation, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying that “people who have suffered false rhetoric are not ready to believe” the prime minister’s words.

    The Samajwadi Party also questioned the Centre’s intention.

    “It is absolutely clear that their heart is not clean, and after the elections, the bills will be brought again.”

    ”This is the truth of those tendering false apologies to farmers. The farmers will bring a change in 2022,” the SP said in a tweet.

    Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh spoke in a similar vein.

    “Who will take responsibility for 700 deaths that occurred during the farmers’ protest? And the people are not believing this announcement. Several BJP leaders are claiming that the farm laws will be brought back after being repealed,” he said.

    Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut demanded that the kin of those killed during the farers’ agitation be given financial assistance from the PM CARES Fund.

    “The government has now realised its mistake and withdrawn the farm laws.There is a demand from different parts of the country that the kin of the farmers who lost their lives should be financially compensated,” Raut said.

    The opposition parties have put their weight behind the agitating farmers on the issue of Minimum Support Price also.

    Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait urged the people to join ‘MSP Adhikar Kisan Mahapanchaya’ in Lucknow, seen as a show of strength by the unions.

    In a tweet in Hindi, he said, “Chalo Lucknow, Chalo Lucknow (let us go to Lucknow) for MSP Adhikar Kisan Mahapanchayat. The agriculture reforms being talked about are fake and cosmetic.”

    “The farm reforms are not going to stop the plight of the farmers. The biggest reform for the farmers and agriculture will be to make a law on the MSP.”

    Farmer leaders are also demanding the removal of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra.

    “The prime minister has announced the repeal of the three farm laws, but he did not say when the MSP law will be made. Until a law is made on the MSP and Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra is removed, the agitation will continue,” Vice-president of Uttar Pradesh unit of BKU Harnam Singh Verma told PTI.

    The Kisan Mahapanchayat in Uttar Pradesh capital assumes significance since the agriculture-dependent state will be going to polls early next year.

    Lucknow Commissioner of Police D K Thakur said that elaborate security measures have been taken for the event to be held at Eco Garden.

    Meanwhile, reports coming from various districts say that groups of farmers were heading to Lucknow to attend the mahapanchayat.

    Sukhvinder Singh, the father of Gurvinder Singh who was among the four farmers killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, said he would be present at the mahapanchayat along with other farmers.

    President of Rashtriya Kisan Manch Shekhar Dixit, who along with his supporters will be participating in mahapanchayat, said that the sacrifice of hundreds of farmers will not be allowed to go in vain.

    “Until all the demands of the protesting farmers are met, the agitation will continue,” he said.

  • 6 demands in SKM open letter to Modi; Cabinet to set ball rolling to nix 3 laws

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH:  The formal process to rollback the three contentious farm laws promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi could begin on Wednesday when the Union Cabinet is expected to take up for approval bills seeking their withdrawal. These bills will  then be introduced in Parliament after its winter session begins on November 29.

    At the Singhu border on Sunday, a meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions, reiterated its decision to go ahead with the planned march to Parliament to mark one year of their protests. 

    It later wrote an open letter  to Modi listing six demands: legally guaranteed MSP mechanism; withdrawal of draft bill on power sector reforms; withdrawal of measures to penalise farmers burning stubble around Delhi; withdrawal of cases against agitating farmers; sacking Union minister Ajay Mishra for his alleged role in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence; and compensation to the families of the 700 farmers who died during the course of the agitation as also land around Singhu border to build a memorial for them.

    SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said, “The pre-decided programmes will continue: mahapanchayat in Lucknow on November 22; gatherings at all border points on November 26; and march to Parliament on November 29.” The next course of action will be decided on November 27. Sunday’s meeting also decided to seek the terms of reference of the panel the Centre will set up on MSP, farmer leader Harinder Singh Lakhowal said.  

    Farmers urge PM to set up a talks with themIn its open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, the SKM urged him to open talks with them on the six issues flagged by them. Till then all their agitational programmes will continue, it added

  • MSP next? Farmers head to Lucknow for Monday’s Kisan Mahapanchayat; SKM to meet at November 27

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW/MUZAFFARNAGAR/LAKHIMPUR: Lucknow/Muzaffarnagar/Lakhimpur Kheri, Nov 21 (PTI) The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers unions, will hold a mahapanchayat in Lucknow on Monday to press for law guaranteeing MSP and the sacking of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, whose son is an accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

    The gathering, scheduled to be held at Eco Garden in Uttar Pradesh capital, was planned months before Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced repealing the three contentious agri laws.

    The SKM, at a meet in Delhi on Sunday, decided to stick to the date.

    Despite the prime minister’s surprise announcement, farmer leaders have maintained the protesters won’t budge until the three contentious laws are formally repealed in Parliament.

    They have also indicated the sir for a statutory guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill will continue.

    In a tweet on Sunday, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait gave a call to farmers to gather in Lucknow for the ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’ demanding statutory MSP guarantee.

    In another tweet in Hindi, he claimed, “The farm reforms being talked about by the government is false and cosmetic. These will not end the plight of the farmers. The biggest reform for the farmers and agriculture will be to make a law guaranteeing minimum support price.”

    Vice-president of the BKU’s Uttar Pradesh unit Harnam Singh Verma told PTI, “The prime minister has announced the repeal of the three farm laws, but he did not say when the MSP law will be made. Until a law is made guaranteeing MSP and Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra is removed from his post, the agitation will continue.”

    Four farmers were allegedly mowed down by an SUV in the Lakhimpur Kheri district, the native place of the Union minister on October 3.

    In the ensuing violence, four people, including a journalist and two BJP workers, were also killed.

    Over a dozen people, including the minister’s son Ashish Mishra, have been arrested so far in the case.

    Verma said that apart from MSP and the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, many other issues will also be discussed at the farmers’ mahapanchayat on Monday.

    With Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh scheduled to be held early next year, the ‘Kisan mahapanchayat’ in the state capital has assumed much significance.

    Farmers are electorally important, particularly in western Uttar Pradesh from where Rakesh Tikiat hails.

    “The BJP had promised during the last Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections that once it forms government, sugarcane farmers will receive payment within 14 days. But it has not been done. In the last four-and-a-half years, sugarcane price has increased by a bare Rs 25,” Verma said.

    Reports from various districts indicate that farmers will be attending the mahapanchayat in large numbers.

    BKU’s district president of Baghpat Pratap Singh Gurjar and of Muzaffarnagar Yogesh Sharma said that farmers have already left for Lucknow in large numbers.

    “Until all the demands of the protesting farmers are met, the agitation will continue. The prime minister made the announcement with an eye on the upcoming Assembly election in which the BJP is seeing the reins of power slipping away,” president of Rashtriya Kisan Manch Shekhar Dixit said.

    Amandeep Singh Sandhi, the in-charge of BKU-Tikait’s Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand unit, said that he expects 10,000 to 15,000 farmers from Lakhimpur Kheri to participate in the mahapanchayat.

    Apart from the villages of the farmers killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, several others would attend the mahapanchayat, Bhartiya Kisan Union state secretary Om Prakash Verma told PTI.

    Sukhvinder Singh, the father of Gurvinder Singh, one of the four farmers killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, said he would attend the mahapanchayat.

    Lucknow Police Commissioner of D K Thakur said that elaborate security arrangements have been made for the ‘Kisan Mahapanchayat’.

    Meanwhile, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) will hold another meeting on November 27 to decide future course of action while the planned march to Parliament by farmers on November 29 will go ahead as per schedule, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said on Sunday.

    Addressing a press conference at Singhu border following a meeting, Rajewal said, “We discussed the repeal of farm laws.

    After this, some decisions were taken.

    SKM’s pre-decided programs will continue as it is.

    Kisan panchayat will be held in Lucknow on November 22, gatherings at all borders on November 26 and march to Parliament on November 29”.

    SKM, an umbrella body of the agitating unions, met earlier on Sunday to decide on the next course of action, including on the MSP issue and the proposed daily tractor march to Parliament during the upcoming Winter Session.

    Farmer leaders have been maintaining that the protesters will stay put at border areas of Delhi until the Centre formally repeals these laws in Parliament after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise announcement on Friday and have indicated their stir for a statutory guarantee of MSP and withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill will continue.