Will be forced to launch another protest if demands not met, says farmers' outfit

Farmers’ outfit Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Monday said it will be forced to launch another protest if the government does not fulfil its demands, including a law on minimum support price (MSP), debt waiver and pension.

A 15-member SKM delegation met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at Krishi Bhawan on Monday and submitted a demand charter, farmer leader Darshan Pal said.

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“There are several unresolved issues and these demand another agitation. We will convene another meeting in Delhi on April 30. I ask all farmer unions to take out rallies in their respective states and hold panchayats in the run-up to the meeting,” he said, addressing the farmers who gathered at the Ramila Maidan in New Delhi.

“We do not want to protest daily but we are forced to do it. If the government does not heed our demands, we will launch another stir which will be bigger than the protest against the farm laws,” he said. Pal said the demands included a law for MSP, complete debt waiver, pension, crop insurance, withdrawal of cases registered against farmers and compensation to families of farmers who died during the protest against now-repealed farm laws.

The farmers also demanded the dismissal and incarceration of Union MoS for Home Ajay Mishra in Lakhimpur Kheri case and compensation for crop damage due to hailstorm and unseasonal rains. Pal said Tomar told the delegation that power subsidies to farmers have been exempt from the Electricity Act. “This demand has already been met. It a big win for the SKM,” he said.

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The minister told the delegation that the government has already issued directions to provide compensation for crop damage due to hail and unseasonal rains.

“We also discussed the issue of a legal guarantee for MSP with the minister. Tomar said he will personally intervene so that cases registered against farmers are withdrawn and compensation to families of deceased farmers is provided,” the farmer leader said.

(With Agency inputs)