Once again, under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, farmers intensified the Delhi March.
NEW DELHI: Many political parties including Congress are trying to stir up a new storm by demanding guaranteed minimum support price, compensation, free electricity etc., for farmers. It is definitely important that farmers get a fair price for their produce. But the right price can be obtained only when priorities are set for the production of grains and oilseeds according to the country’s needs. Similarly, to export fruits and vegetables from India, the government and the private sector will have to make major arrangements for roads, railways, air facilities and financial resources. The list of demands and expectations will keep growing. Once again, under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, farmers intensified the Delhi March movement on 6 December in support of their demands. Apart from Minimum Support Price (MSP), they are demanding farm loan waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in power tariff, withdrawal of police cases and “justice” for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, restoration of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of farmers killed during the previous agitation in 2020-21.
This time in the farmers’ march to Delhi, there is a Marjeevda Jatha—those who sacrifice themselves for a cause. It is said that Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib had formed a Marjeevda Jatha and had also included Bhai Matidas, Satidas and Bhai Dayala in it. Meaning, religious sentiments have been added to politics. This group of 101 farmers will walk unarmed and on foot. The farmers included in the group have also been asked to fill a consent form. The Sanyukta Kisan Morcha and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are behind the farmers’ movement. On October 26, farmers had gathered in large numbers in Badrukhan of Sangrur district to protest against the government and pressurize their many demands including timely purchase of paddy. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher at Shambhu border said that “It has been 297 days since the protest started and the hunger strike at Khanauri border has entered the 11th day. Farmers have been sitting on dharna at Shambhu border for about 300 days.”
On the other hand, Congress and other opposition parties have become aggressive in Parliament.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in the Rajya Sabha that all agricultural produce will be purchased at a minimum support price—this is the guarantee of the Modi government. Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Chaudhary said that the government is ready for talks with the farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken many big decisions for farmer welfare in the last 10 years. Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that “If MSP has been increased by 2.5 and 3 times, it has been increased by Narendra Modi’s government and when there was an (opposition) government, they did not buy it. They only declared MSP. They had purchased 6 lakh 29 thousand metric tons of pulses. Modi ji’s government has purchased 1 crore 71 lakh metric tons. We are buying as well as paying the price. We are also continuously increasing MSP. It is the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that has fixed the minimum support price by adding 50% profit on the cost and the friends sitting in front (opposition) had refused to accept the recommendation of the Swaminathan Commission and said that the market will get distorted.” The Agriculture Minister said that this government has fixed the minimum support price by fixing 50% profit on the cost. When the (opposition) government was in power, the MSP of paddy was Rs 1,510, which was increased to Rs 2,300 per quintal by Narendra Modi’s government. The MSP of jawar was Rs 1,500 per quintal, which was increased to Rs 3,371 per quintal by the Modi government. The MSP of millet was increased from Rs 1,250 per quintal to Rs 2,625 per quintal. The MSP of ragi was increased from Rs 1,500 per quintal to Rs 4,290 by Narendra Modi’s government. The MSP of maize was increased from Rs 1,310 per quintal to Rs 2,225 per quintal. The MSP of toor was increased from Rs 4,300 per quintal to Rs 7,550 per quintal. The Agriculture Minister added that the MSP of moong was increased from Rs 4,500 per quintal to Rs 8,682 per quintal by Narendra Modi’s government. The MSP of urad was increased from Rs 4,300 per quintal to Rs 7,600 per quintal. The MSP of groundnut was increased from Rs 4,000 per quintal to Rs 6,783 per quintal.
These figures and the export of agricultural products put India among the leading countries of the world. Last year, India earned about $776 million from the export of 250 million quintals. But the real problem is the leadership of the farmers. No one could question farmer leaders such as Chaudhary Charan Singh or Chaudhary Devi Lal. Journalists like us used to report on their keeping cows and buffaloes in their government bungalows when they were Deputy Prime Ministers. George Fernandes, Madhu Limaye, Dattopant Thengadi were always at the forefront of agitating for workers in any state, going to jail and facing lathicharge. Namboodiripad, Jyoti Basu or Bhupesh Gupta and Harkishan Singh Surjeet were truly influential on the strength of communist ideas and workers. These leaders did not need to hire a crowd. In this background, the question arises whether the leadership of poor farmers and workers can be said to be in the hands of one or two leaders at this time. There are many leaders of parties, castes, organizations run by domestic and foreign donations across the country. That is why Government of India has held several meetings with the claimant leaders of the farmers over the last two months and is ready for talks even today.