Farmers May March to Delhi Again, After Haryana Elections Results

Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), a collective of farmers’ organisations, is considering holding a massive march to the national capital but this may take place after November 26, the fourth anniversary of beginning of historic farmers’ movement in 2020, against the now-repealed three farm laws. 

The national coordination committee meeting of SKM took place recently at Kisan Bhavan in Chandigarh. A highly placed source told Newsclick subsequently, “Farmers are enraged that the centre is not fulfilling its demand. We are waiting for Haryana Assembly Elections where we have appealed to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party. While some organisations are of firm belief about the march, others argued that the anniversary on November 26 could be observed in state capitals.  However, the final decision will be taken in the General Body Meeting on October 15 in New Delhi.”

Counting for Haryana Assembly elections will take place on October 10. It appears that SKM would like to wait for the outcome before finalising the date of the march to Delhi.

The farmers are particularly enraged over non- fulfilment of promises after they withdrew from the Delhi borders. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the decision of repealing the farm laws, the Union government’s Secretary (Farmers Welfare) Sanjay Agarwal had assured the leadership of Samyukta Kisan Morcha that the government will form a committee including representatives from centre and state governments, agriculture scientists and farmers leaders of different unions with the mandate to devise methods to implement minimum support price. 

The letter dated 9th December 2021 also noted that the Union government in principle agrees to withdraw criminal cases filed by its agencies against farmers for participation in the historic struggle and it will appeal to the state governments too to withdraw such cases. The centre will also hold discussion on provisions impacting farmers in Electricity Amendment Act. 

Among the other decisions taken at the national coordination committee meeting, SKM decided to participate in the national protest day called by Central Trade Unions on September 23 to press for revoking the four contentious labour codes and stopping privatisation of public sector units. 

Ashok Dhawale, President, All India Kisan Sabha, told Newsclick over phone that farmers bodies affiliated to the SKM will participate in the appeal given by the Central Trade Unions and observe black day on September 23. He said CTUs played an important role in making the SKM agitations successful through mobilising the workers.

The development of farmers’ organisations and central trade unions coming together in recent times is being considered important as many SKM members had expressed their reluctance for joint struggles. The Central Trade Unions have been demanding revocation of the four new labour codes, stopping privatisation of public sector enterprises and reversing the policy of contractualisation of workers. They allege that new labour codes bring sweeping changes in terms of working hours, nature of work and right to legal recourse in case of any dispute. 

Dhawle added that the farmers will also observe anti-corporate day on September 28, the birthday of legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. “The corporates are penetrating deeply in agriculture. Bhagat Singh is a perfect symbol of anti-imperialism and thus opposing the corporate to stop the plunder of farmers’ livelihoods.”

He further said, “We are also firm in our demand that former Minister of State Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni should be arrested for the murder of four farmers and one journalist in Lakhimpur Kheri. PM Narendra Modi did not care to expel from the cabinet despite such serious criminal charges. This is why we decided to observe all India protest on October 3 when the murderous assault took place three years ago.”

In a statement, SKM said, “The meeting condemned the Digital Agricultural Mission as declared by the Modi Government aimed at promoting  corporatisation of agricultural research, production and marketing to aid Agribusiness and against the interests of farmers”

The farmers bodies have already expressed their apprehensions of signing of Memorandum of Understanding of multinational giants like Bayer, Syngenta, Amazon with Indian Council of Agricultural Research and announcement of Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman offering public funds for private research.