Kisan Maha Panchayat firm on demands, protests to continue

 

 

 

THE Kisan Maha Panchayat in Lucknow on Monday was a firm reiteration of the six-point charter of demands that farmers have submitted to the Prime Minister. The Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella organisation of the farmers’ unions, said that their protests would continue till their demands, including guarantee for minimum support price and dismissal of Union Minister Ajay Misra Teni, were met. Addressing thousands of farmers from several States, BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, “Our ‘andolan’ is not going to end till all our demands are met. We will hold similar panchayats across the country and those who think that the issue is over, are sadly mistaken.” He said that MSP guarantee was their foremost demand.

 

“We want to make the minimum support price (MSP) that is based on the formula of C2+50 per cent (means 50 per cent above the cost of production) as a legal right for all crops and for all farmers,” said Tikait. Tikait said that the next meeting of the farmers would be held on Delhi borders on 26th. The farmers meanwhile, demanded land at Singhu border for a memorial in memory of farmers who had lost their lives during the agitation. Tikait also sought compensation for the families of deceased farmers. The other demands included withdrawal of the Power Regulation Amendment Bill, withdrawal of all cases related to the Delhi border agitation and stubble burning. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Sunday put forth six conditions in an open letter to the Prime Minister and threatened to continue the agitation if the Government failed to discuss these with the farmers.