Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers in western Uttar Pradesh want buying of crops below minimum support price to be made a 'criminal offence'

MUZAFFARNAGAR: Hundreds of farmers from different parts of western UP took part in a mahapanchayat organised by Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), on Saturday, pressing for minimum support price (MSP) of sugarcane to be fixed at Rs 450 per quintal, discussion on pending cane dues and demand to make buying of crops below MSP a "criminal offence". Several local farm leaders, including that of the BKU, addressed the large gathering at the government inter college ground in Muzaffarnagar - all against the backdrop of the recently constituted farm laws. Farmers are also largely unhappy with the state's action against them for stubble burning. Heavy police force was deployed as a precaution. Speaking to media persons, BKU chief Naresh Tikait said, "The contentious farm laws should be amended and the UP government - like other states such as Punjab, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh - must make buying of crops below MSP a criminal offence." National spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said that the state government did not increase cane prices for the past two years. Now, the sugarcane price should be fixed at Rs 450 per quintal, he added. Notably, parts of western UP have been witnessing large farmers' protests for the past 10 days. A memorandum with 13 demands was sent to the state government. It included clearing of all cane dues and paying the bills within 14 days after purchasing the crop. "In the name of stubble burning, farmers are being booked and blamed for increasing the pollution level, while sugarcane mills are not paying the dues," Dharmendra Malik, BKU's media spokesperson, said. Confirming the memorandum, additional district magistrate Amit Singh said, "The farmers have given a memorandum with 13 demands, which is being sent to the government. We have discussed several of the farmers' demands. Some of them can be solved at the district level. The MSP demand is related to the government."

The Times of India

2020-11-08

Meerut