Farmer leaders held press conference in Delhi on Saturday.
Farmer leaders have once again warned the government in the midst of the ongoing movement with the rest of the demands including withdrawal of 3 new agricultural laws of the Center. On Saturday, a 7-member committee coordinating the farmer’s movement held a press conference in Delhi and told the central government that if the farmers’ demands were not met, farmers from the fronts around Delhi, farmers will come to Delhi on January 26 to perform “Farmers Republic Parade” with tractor trolley and other vehicles.
This press conference was addressed by Balbir Singh Raje Wal, Darshan Pal, Gurnam Singh Chaduni, Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Yogendra Yadav, members of the National Coordination Committee of the United Kisan Morcha.
Farmer leaders also made it clear that this parade will be held after the official parade of Republic Day is over.
Farmer leaders said, “We had told the government on the first day that we are not going to move away from here without repealing these three anti-farmer laws. The government has only two avenues: Either it withdraw this unsolicited gift as soon as possible and give legal guarantee to the farmers for purchase on MSP, or they should resort to sticks. Now we have come to a decisive turn in the cross-border battle. By 26 January, two months of our camping in Delhi will be completed. We chose Republic Day for this decisive step because this day symbolizes the highest power of the majority farmers in our country.
Several local and national programs have also been announced by the United Farmers Front between now and 26 January. “Desh Jagriti Pakhwada” will be celebrated to “expose government lies and propaganda” from January 6 to January 20 to give momentum to the farmers movement across the country. In this fortnight, dharna and solid front will be organized in every district of the country.
According to the United Farmers Front,
- If the January 4 talks with the government fail, then on January 6, the farmers will march on the KMP Expressway. After that, farmers will also march towards Delhi, putting a front on Shahjahanpur.
- On January 13, on the occasion of Lohri / Sankranti, “Kisan Sankalp Diwas” will be made across the country and all three laws will be lit.
- By celebrating Women Farmers Day on January 18, the contribution of women in the country’s farming will be underlined.
- On 23 January, by celebrating “Azad Hind Kisan Diwas” in memory of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, farmers will camp in all capitals outside the Governor’s residence.
What laws are farmers opposing?
Farmers’ organizations are demanding withdrawal of the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Price Assurance and Agricultural Services Agreement Act 2020, Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Simplification) Act 2020 and Essential Commodities Amendment Act 2020.
The government introduced these three agricultural laws in September as a major reform in the agricultural sector. He has said that this will remove middlemen and farmers will be able to sell their produce anywhere in the country.
But farmers’ organizations fear that these laws will put the minimum support price (MSP) and mandi system in danger and the farmers will be left dependent on big industrial houses. However, the government has said that the MSP and the mandi system will remain.
