Govt Seeks Names Of Farmers Leaders For MSP Panel, SKM Meeting On Future Of Agri Protest Tomorrow

Farmer Protest: Farmers have reiterated the demand for MSP guarantee. A major decision on the farmers' movement is expected on December 1.

Farmers participate in a tractor rally organized by BJP Kisan Morcha from Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, in Varanasi. (Image: PTI)

Farmer Protest: The agitating farmers have written to PM Modi on Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee and the rest of their demands. The farmers have given time to the Government of India till December 1 to reply to the letter.

With this, an emergency meeting of the United Kisan Morcha has been convened on December 1 to take a major decision on the farmers' movement. 

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of over 40 farm unions, has been spearheading the farmers' movement against the three farm laws and their other demands, including a legal guarantee for MSP.

It regretted that the Agricultural Law Repeal Bill, 2021 was not allowed to be discussed when it was passed in both houses of Parliament on Monday.

Reacting on the same, a farmer leader said, "This is our victory and a historic day. We want the case against the farmers to be withdrawn. We want a committee to be constituted on MSP for crops. The Centre has until Wednesday to respond to our demands. We have convened an emergency meeting of SKM on Wednesday to discuss future strategy."

Govt Seeks Names Of Farmer Leaders For Panel On MSP

Centre has sought five names from the Samkyukt Kisan Morcha in order to constitute a committee for discussion on MSP and other issues.

"Today, the Centre has asked for five names from SKM for the committee that will deliberate on the issue of minimum support price (MSP) for crops. We have not yet decided on the names. We will decide this in our December 4 meeting," farmer leader Darshan Pal told news agency PTI.

Centre's call came a day after both Houses of Parliament passed a Bill to repeal the three contentious farm laws against which farmers have been protesting for a year.

Movement can be withdrawn

SKM said in a statement that repealing agricultural laws is the first major victory of the farmers' movement but other important demands are still pending. The SKM also demanded compensation to the families of farmers who lost their lives during the agitation.

Sources indicated that the agitation could be withdrawn if the government expressed its intention to consider the remaining demands of farmers or guaranteed them. However, any final decision in this regard will be taken at the emergency meeting of SKM.