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regular-article-logo Wednesday, 24 April 2024

Farmers in Delhi to seek MSP

A Samyukta Kisan Morcha delegation met Narendra Singh Tomar and submitted a memorandum, reminding the govt of its promises that had prompted the farmers to lift their agitation and siege of Delhi in end-2021

Anita Joshua New Delhi Published 21.03.23, 03:27 AM
Farmers attend the mahapanchayat in New Delhi on Monday.

Farmers attend the mahapanchayat in New Delhi on Monday. Twitter

The organisation that led the yearlong farmers’ agitation held a daylong mahapanchayat in Delhi on Monday to press its longstanding demands including a law guaranteeing minimum support prices for all crops, mobilising a sizable number of farmers despite a vertical split.

A Samyukta Kisan Morcha delegation also met Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar and submitted a memorandum, reminding the government of its promises that had prompted the farmers to lift their agitation and siege of Delhi in end-2021.

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“Today, over 15 months later, the Union government has not fulfilled the promises made to the farmers. We request you once again, to urge the Union government to take immediate concrete steps to resolve the pending issues, and pay heed to the problems of the farmers,” the memorandum said.

“We request the Union government, through you, to stop challenging the patience of the farmers. If the government continues to renege on its promises and responsibility towards farmers, then farmers will be left with no option but to intensify the struggle.”

Barring the withdrawal of three farm laws that the farmers said favoured big companies, most of the farmers’ other demands have remained unaddressed.

These include a law guaranteeing minimum support prices (MSPs) for all crops, using the C2 (imputed cost of capital and rent on land) + 50 per cent formula as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission; assured procurement; disbanding of the committee on MSPs set up by the government; loan waivers; and reduction in input prices including those of fertilisers.

The other pending demands include the withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill; dismissal and arrest of Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra Teni over the murder of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri; and compensation and rehabilitation for the families of farmers who died while participating in the yearlong agitation.

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