252nd Day, 5th of August 2021
(Samaj Weekly)- Kisan Sansad passes a resolution directing the Government of India to introduce, and the Indian Parliament to pass a statute for guaranteeing remunerative MSP for all farmers and all agricultural commodities – Kisan Sansad asks for implementation of many progressive recommendations of Swaminathan Commission – Kisan Sansad sees the participation of “Guests of the House”
BJP leaders are confronted with black flag protests in several states
Contingents of farmers from distant states joining morcha sites and Kisan Sansad – Large contingent of Tamil Nadu farmers joins Singhu Border morcha today
BJP leader admits that the farmer agitation is the only big issue in Haryana – this exposes the false claim of Government and BJP that protesting farmers are fringe elements of society
Samyukt Kisan Morcha and farmers of the country are watching out for parties that are not abiding by the ‘People’s Whip’ – Parties like BJD, TRS, TDP and YSRCP apart from BJP allies are called out for their anti-people stance
The Kisan Sansad, on its 11th day of proceedings, continued its detailed deliberations on remunerative MSP having to be made a legal entitlement of all farmers and for all agricultural commodities. Today, there were three eminent agricultural economists and policy analysts who participated as “Guests of the House” – they included Dr Devinder Sharma, Dr Ranjit Singh Ghuman and Dr Sucha Singh Gill.
The Kisan Sansad discussed the current situation with regard to cost of production calculations by the Government of India wherein several costs are being suppressed, in a system that leaves out much scope for improvements in the surveys used for arriving at cost estimates. The Kisan Sansad parliamentarians strongly condemned the fact that wrong cost concepts are being used by the Modi government, in a deceitful manner, for MSP declaration. Instead of using a C2+50% formula, the Government is using A2+Family Labour formula, ignoring the recommendation of the Swaminathan Commission. Participants also pointed out that there are many agricultural commodities which do not have any MSP declared, while the MSP declared is meaningless without mechanisms for guaranteeing such a minimum support price to every farmer.
The Kisan Sansad passed a resolution directing the Government of India to immediately table a Bill that will fully address the current injustice in terms of cost calculations, MSP formula and guaranteed MSP operationalisation. Such a statute should cover all agricultural commodities and all farmers. The Kisan Sansad also directed the Government of India to ensure that any future arrangements made for MSP legalisation should not curtail or be lower than the best level of procurement in the past five years in each state respectively for various commodities.
Samyukt Kisan Morcha is taking note of the various political parties and their Parliamentarians, with regard to the People’s Whip issued by SKM to the MPs. It is seen that parties like BJD, TRS, YSRCP, AIADMK, TDP and JDU have been participating in debates on various Bills, or have acted against the People’s Whip. SKM warns them against anti-people positions, and reminds all parties about the People’s Whip already issued.
To join the morchas and participate in the Kisan Sansad, contingents of farmers from different states have been arriving into Delhi. While it was the turn of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka delegates earlier, a large contingent of 1000 farmers affiliated to AIKS Tamil Nadu reached Delhi today. These farmers will stay at Singhu Border for 7 days to strengthen the all-India struggle. Earlier, a march that was planned by these Tamil farmers from New Delhi station was stopped by Delhi Police.
BJP leaders continue to face protests in various states like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Today, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala had to face black flag protests in Rohtak. Protesting farmers were undeterred by the heavy police presence or rains. In Ludhiana in Punjab, where state executive leaders of the BJP along with its Mahila Morcha leaders had gathered in a hotel for a meeting, a large number of farmers gathered to protest, on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, in a spreading movement, in Uttar Pradesh, protesting farmers have now sent a formal memorandum to the Governor through the district administration in Moradabad cautioning against a BJP MLA inaugurating a government scheme and giving an ultimatum that if officials do not replace the BJP leader, that they would resort to a black flag protest. Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Swami Prasad Maurya was met with black flag protests in Puranpur, Pilibhit and his convoy stopped by protesting farmers yesterday. As part of Mission Uttar Pradesh, it is reported that more toll plazas are being freed up by farmer unions in the state. In numerous places, farmers’ vehicles and convoys have already secured a toll-free passage with farmer union flags or other identification.
As an expression of solidarity with the farmers’ movement, the ‘Gandhian Collective’ in Kerala is organising a 100-hours Relay fasting and satyagraha from August 5 to August 9 (Quit India Day) in Bharananganam, Kottayam district. A small group of four Satyagrahis from different districts of Kerala will undergo 25-hour relay fasting/Satyagraha on these days. The event has been named as “Agriculture, Food and Health Swaraj Satyagraha against Corporate Raj”.
In Telangana, 500 adivasis undertook a 70-kilometre-long and 5-day-long protest from Aswaraopeta to Kothagudem, asking for stopping of eviction of adivasi farmers from podu land, for granting rights over forest produce and for the legal right of MSP for all agri-produce including on Minor Forest Produce (MFP). Led by AIKMS, they are also demanding the repeal of the 3 pro-corporate farm laws.
A senior Haryana BJP leader Capt Abhimanyu has reportedly said that the farmers’ agitation is the only big issue confronting the state at this point of time. This clearly belies what the Government and BJP have been alleging at various times, that the protesting farmers are only a handful of fringe elements in society.
Issued by –
Balbir Singh Rajewal, Dr Darshan Pal, Gurnam Singh Charuni, Hannan Mollah, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Shivkumar Sharma ‘Kakkaji’, Yudhvir Singh, Yogendra Yadav
Samyukta Kisan Morcha
9417269294, samyuktkisanmorcha@gmail.com
