New Delhi: After its core committee meeting, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressing on remaining demands besises the repeal of contentious agrarian laws.
In its letter, the SKM has listed six demands of agitating farmers which include law on Minimum Support Price (MSP), 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, news agency PTI reported.
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In the demands put forth by SKM, the union body has sought for the Union government to immediately resume talks with farmers.
In the latter, the protesting farmers’ union thanked PM Narendra Modi for announcing the repeal of the three agrarian laws. However, it alleged: “After 11 rounds of talks, you chose the path of unilateral declaration rather than a bilateral solution”.
Government should immediately resume talks with farmers. Till then, the movement will continue, Samyukt Kisan Morcha wrote in the open letter, as reported by PTI.
The Morcha demands that MSP based on the comprehensive cost of production be made a legal entitlement of all farmers for all agricultural produce.
The farmers’ union also wants the Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra to be sacked and arrested in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri case in which his son Ashish was previously arrested.
It 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.
It was stated that farmers have expressed disappointment “due to lack of concrete announcement on their important demands in your address”.
A law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) for all farmers is among the six demands.
The Morcha has also demanded that cases lodged against farmers during the anti-farm laws movement be withdrawn immediately. Furthemore, it said that families of farmers who died during the agitation should get rehabilitation support and compensation.
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.
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 the Singhu border after the meeting, Balbir 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”.
Farmer leaders maintain that the protesters will stay put at border areas of Delhi until the Union government formally repeals the contentious laws in Parliament. They have indicated that their stir for a statutory guarantee of MSP and withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill will continue.
Meanwhile, the farmers’ mahapanchayat in Lucknow on Monday will take place as planned to press the demand for a law guaranteeing MSP.
(With Agency Inputs)