Farmers Movement Archive

Samyukt Kisan Morcha launches ‘Mission UP, Uttarakhand’

New Delhi, July 26Spelling trouble for the BJP in the two poll-bound states, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) today launched ‘Mission Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand’. Farmer leaders, including Rakesh Tikait and Yogendra Yadav, announced in Lucknow that the “mission” would be formally started with a mahapanchayat in Muzaffarnagar on September 5. “The farmers’ movement will be taken to every village of the two states to strengthen it, the way it has happened in Punjab and Haryana,” they saidKisan SansadIncrease women representationA constitutional amendment should be made to give due representation to women, who constitute 50 per cent of the population.Tikait said they would turn Lucknow into Delhi, and all roads to the state capital would be closed. “Our agitation will continue until the three agricultural laws are repealed,” he said.The SKM leaders also called upon farmer unions and other “progressive forces” to join hands, and free up all toll plazas in the states as part of the “mission”.“The BJP and its allies will face protests while holding their programmes, and their leaders will face social boycott. Meetings, dialogues, yatras and rallies will be held in the two states,” they said.Meanwhile, the ‘Mahila Kisan Sansad’ at the Jantar Mantar passed two resolutions, demanding “thought-out measures” to increase the role and space for women in the ‘Kisan Andolan’ and “33 per cent representation for women in Parliament and the Assemblies onthe pattern of local bodies such as panchayats and municipal committees.”“A constitutional amendment should be made in this regard to give due representation to women, who constitute 50 per cent of the population,” resolved the ‘Mahila Kisan Sansad’.“Though the women contribute significantly to farming, they do not receive the dignity, recognition and status they deserve in the country. Their hard work and skills should be taken on board by people’s movements and the society,” it said. The ‘Mahila Kisan Sansad’ also demanded repeal of Essential Commodities Amendments Act-2020. A woman member, Ramesh, who had lost her husband during the protest, also participated in the meeting.The day marked the completion of eight months of farmers’ protests at the borders of Delhi.

The Tribune

2021-07-27