Farmers Movement Archive

SKM national convention concludes with pledge to intensify struggle

Bathinda: The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha national convention concluded on Friday evening with a clarion call to expand and intensify the ongoing struggle against contentious farm laws, taking it to every village and corner of the country. The SKM reiterated two action plans of Bharat Bandh on September 25 and national mahapanchayat at Muzzafarnagar on September 5, to give momentum to protests which have been going on for over 9 months at Delhi borders. “Farmers have decided not to stop till the central government does not repeal the farms laws. They are ready even to keep on fighting till 2024 if the government so desires and the ultimate goal now is to see a government minus BJP,” said organising committee convener Ashish Mittal. Senior farmer leader Rakesh Tikait too echoed similar sentiments in Chandigarh. The nearly 2,000-odd delegates said nothing less than repeal of the three farm acts, legal guarantee of purchase of all agriculture produce at MSP of C2+50%, repeal of electricity bill and penalising farmers in air quality management, will be acceptable to them. They also raised slogans against communal attacks on minorities and sale of country’s natural assets and public sector to corporates and MNCs. Resolutions on these issues were approved with voice vote. Mittal said the changes being instituted will lead to wide increase in farmer debts, suicides and displacement from land. Assets, meant to ensure growth, provide employment and security to its people, like railways, power transmission lines, natural gas resources, telecom projects, food storage, insurance and banks are being sold, he said. This farmer struggle is not just a fight for survival, but save the country from being taken over completely by corporates, stated SKM.

The Times of India

2021-08-28

Chandigarh