Samyukta Kisan Morcha Press Release
284th day, 6th September 2021
After the huge success of the historic Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat in Muzaffarnagar, the might of the farm movement being acknowledged throughout the nation and across the world — Farmers vow to continue struggle against the anti-farmer anti-worker Modi government
Following the last day of the ultimatum issued by the farmers to act against the officers who ordered violence and to ’break heads’ of the farmers, farmers will hold a Mahapanchayat in Karnal tomorrow — Section 144 imposed in Karnal by the district administration to forestall the protests — Internet shutdown in Karnal before the Mahapanchayat
Protests against BJP and allied parties’ leaders continue across the country
Kisan Mahapanchayat to be held in Chattisgarh on September 28th
The Muzaffarnagar Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat organized by SKM became a historic success, with its reverberations felt throughout the country and across the world. Even BJP leaders, MP Varun Gandhi and MLA Ram Iqbal Singh among others, acknowledged the might of the farm movement. From this Mahapanchayat, farmers have now openly challenged the anti-farmer anti-worker Modi government. The Mission Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand launched by SKM, will take the farm movement across the two states, and will punish and defeat BJP in the upcoming elections. Farmers have vowed to carry the torch of the movement throughout the nation and to continue this movement until farmers get their due.
After the state violence against the peaceful farmers on August 28th, which resulted in the death of one farmer, Shaheed Sushil Kajal, and injury to countless others, the farmers had issued an ultimatum to the Haryana government to act against the SDM and other officers who were caught giving the command to ’break heads’ of the farmers. Farmers had demanded that the officers be sacked, and a murder case be registered against the SDM Ayush Sinha, in addition to a compensation of ₹25 lakh to Shaheed Kajal’s family and ₹2 lakh each to the farmers injured in the state violence. The deadline of the ultimatum was till today, i.e. September 6th, following which farmers had warned to gherao the Mini Secretariat.
Since the Khattar government has refused to accept the farmers’ demands, and instead endorsed the actions of the SDM, farmers have decided to proceed with their plans for protest. In that context, a Mahapanchayat will be held in Karnal tomorrow. Farmers will assemble at the grain market, and then proceed to gherao the Mini Secretariat. In a shameful and cowardly act, the district administration of Karnal has imposed section 144 in the area and shut down internet in the area, and has threatened to charge the protesters with section 188 of IPC. SKM said that these oppressive measures will not break the spirit of those farmers who have braved these tyranny for last 10 months.
In a response to Union Minister Anurag Thakur’s question, “Which mandi has closed in last two years”, SKM reminded the minister that in last one year, since the farm laws were introduced, mandis across the nation have seen a huge drop in their revenues. In MP, the agricultural marketing board suffered a 66% loss of revenue, and has started to rent out the mandi space. UP minister Sriram Chauhan informed the UP assembly that the mandis have lost revenue after the new laws were passed, and the government has stalled building new APMC mandis.
Meanwhile, the Union Agriculture Minister is busy inaugurating Amazon India’s Kisan Store. After the crops and insurance, the government has also handed over the fertilizers and seeds to the corporates. The urea that IFFCO sells at ₹ 266.50 for 45 kg, is selling at ₹ 199 a kg on Amazon. On Flipkart, the price of 450 grams of urea is written as ₹ 130. SKM said this is open black marketing of the fertilizers on the platform launched by Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar himself.
The protests against BJP leaders continue throughout the country. In Sangrur, Punjab, farmers staged protest at the residence of BJP’s district president, where a meeting of the BJP was being held. In Bathinda, Punjab, farmers gheraoed a hotel where a meeting of BJP’s district unit was being organized. In Haryana, farmers staged protests with black flags, against a meeting of JJP leaders held at a farmhouse near Jharaudi village. SKM reiterated its stand to oppose all events of the BJP and the allied parties.
SKM condemns the actions of Punjab BJP leader Harjit Singh Grewal who misbehaved and abused a TV reporter. Mr Grewal has been speaking viciously against the farmers in the media. Such actions expose the anti-women and anti-farmer characteristic of BJP leaders. Meanwhile, a short clip of Rakesh Tikait’s speech is being circulated with communal intentions. SKM condemns this act of the godi media and the BJP IT Cell. In the full speech, Rakesh Tikait can be heard saying that we will give a call for the Hindu-Muslim Unity. SKM calls on the media to report honestly.
After the success of Muzaffarnagar Kisan-Mazdoor Mahapanchayat, farm movement has emerged with renewed enthusiasm. More such events are being planned in the upcoming days, including a Kisan Mahapanchayat being organized by Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh in Chattisgarh. Meanwhile, the deadline issued by the farm unions to the Punjab government to withdraw frivolous cases against the farmers expires on September 8th, after which farmers will launch agitation against the Punjab government.
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
Email: samyuktkisanmorcha@gmail.com
