Farmers are protesting at the borders against the three farm laws ushered in by the Narendra Modi led central government. They have successfully fought off the harsh winters in the region and continue to camp at Singhu, Tikri, Gazipur and Shahjahanpur borders for 120 days as of today. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) an umbrella organisation of several farmer’s organisations observes that the government remains untouched by this relentless struggle of the farmers. SKM has appealed to the citizens to make the complete Bharat Bandh successful on March 26. ‘On this day, from 6 am to 6 pm, all road and rail transport, all markets and other public places will be closed across the country. However, this is not necessary for the places where elections are going to be held. We appeal to the people of the country to make this Bharat Bandh a success and honour their Annadata,’ noted SKM.
The organisation has noted on several occasions that the Modi government has been trying its best to discredit and dismantle the movement. SKM and the protesting farmers are not ready to go back till the laws are repealed and Minimum Support Price (MSP) is legalised.
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In one of their attempts to discredit the movement the government and several mainstream media houses, resorted to claim that the movement was a conspiracy of Khalistani separatists, of terrorist outfits, of only the politically motivated sections of Punjab and Haryana and also have claimed that it is an international conspiracy. Time and again this claim of the government has been discredited by the overwhelming participation of farmers from across the country in the movement at delhi borders and also in their own states. Remembering Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on their martyrdom day on March 23 farmers across the country yet again proved the government’s efforts and false claims futile .
In Ashoknagar, Madhya Pradesh, the youth wrote slogans of Inquilab Zindabad with their blood and organized a blood donation camp. Farmers organized programs on Martyrdom Day in Rourkela, Odisha. Students led by All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) organized programs in support of farmers in Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand. The Kisan Yatra was carried out by the All India Krishak Khet Majdoor Sangathan (AIKKMS) from the Nikasi of Ballia to Rasra. AIKKMS-led Kisan Yatras reached Tikri Border and rallies were also held in Kurukshetra and Sonipat. A torch procession was taken out at Bhatgaon Sonipat in Haryana.
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In Uttarpara, West Bengal, ISFTU and PYL activists celebrated Martyrdom Day and appealed for a successful Bharat bandh call given by the SKM on March 26, 2021. In Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, programs were organized by the farmers on Martyrdom Day. A program was organized by the farmers on Martyrdom Day in Visakhapatnam also. A rally was organized by NBS and AIKMS from Ghurpur in Prayagraj to Naribari. The All India Democratic Youth Organisation (AIDYO) organised a rally in Chandigarh. A rally and meeting were held on Martyrdom Day under the leadership of Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Sabha in Manchrial, Telangana, in which the demand for repeal of three farming laws, withdrawal of electricity bill 2020 and legislation for MSP was raised.
A conference held at Visakhapatnam
Successful Mahapanchayats organised across the country is yet another testimonial to disprove Modi government’s false claims of the movement being only of Punjab and Haryana. One of such Kisan Mahapanchayats was held in Shivamogga in Karnataka on March 20, 2021. Farmer Leaders, Dr. Darshan Pal, Yudhvir Singh and Rakesh Tikait addressed the gathering of thousands of farmers. An FIR has been lodged against the farmer leader Rakesh Tikait in Shivamogga and SKM has strongly condemned this. A Mahapanchayat was organised at Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, in which thousands of people participated under the leadership of farmers’ organizations and religious organizations of Punjab, on March 24, 2021. Thus the government attempts to intimidate the protesting farmers and seems to be failing at achieving that.
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SKM has also condemned the attack on the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly. An RJD MLA fainted and four others suffered minor injuries as party MLAs were marshalled out of the Assembly during their unsuccessful attempt to stall the passage of the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021. SKM in their press note said, ‘BJP and allies parties suppress the voice of the opposition and defame them. We oppose and condemn police brutality on elected representatives and the new anti-people law.’
