Seven months into protest, Samyukt Kisan Morcha urges President for intervention

Farmers have stayed put at Delhi’s doorstep braving rain, heat and Covid-19. File/AFP

As the protest at Delhi's doorstep against the Centre's three farm laws completes its seventh month tomorrow, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an amalgamation of farmer groups and organisations from across the country, has written to President Ramnath Kovind highlighting their "deep anguish and indignation" and urged him to "immediately accept the legitimate demands of the farmers' movement".

The SKM, which is spearheading the protest, has given a nationwide agitation on June 26. "When India became independent, we (annadaatas) used to feed 33 crore citizens in the country; today, in about the same extent of land, we manage to feed around 140 crore Indians," reads SKM's letter to the President. "During the Coronavirus pandemic, while other sectors in the economy decelerated and slumped, we achieved record production in agriculture, ensured that our granaries were over-flowing and did so risking our own lives. However, in return for this kind of service that we provided to the entire country, the Government of India which runs on your seal of assent, thrust on us three anti-farmer black laws which will destroy our farming as well as our future generations, laws that will snatch agriculture from our hands and hand over to big corporations."

All India Kisan Sabha president and SKM leader Ashok Dhawale told mid-day: "On June 26, the historic farmers' struggle completes seven long months, successfully combating repression, defamation, corona, cold, rain, and heat. It is still going strong, with lakhs of farmers at the Delhi borders and throughout the country. It is condemnable that the BJP central government has broken off talks with the SKM for the last five months. Yet farmers are determined to struggle on until the three hated farm laws are repealed and a central law made to guarantee a fair MSP and procurement."

He said June 26 is also the 46th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency. "What is going on for the last seven years of the Modi-led BJP regime is nothing less than an undeclared Emergency. Democratic rights and civil liberties of hundreds of human rights activists, intellectuals, students, journalists, and others are being trampled upon by the use of draconian laws like UAPA, NSA, and the Sedition Act."

The letter calls the farm laws unconstitutional "because the Union Government has no authority to make legislation in the area of (agricultural) markets" and that no consultations and dialogues were held with farmers. The letter concludes: "We hope that you will direct the Union Government to immediately accept the legitimate demands of the farmers' movement, repeal the three anti-farmer laws, and to enact a law that will guarantee remunerative MSP for all farmers."

Protest on June 26

The SKM has given a nationwide call to ‘Save Agriculture, Save Democracy' on June 26, which will be supported by Central Trade Unions as well as hundreds of people-led organisations.

26 June
46th anniversary of imposition of Emergency