Thursday, the 238th day of the farmers’ protest was a historical day in a historical people’s movement. On the call of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a Kisan Sansad was organised at Jantar Mantar, near the Parliament.
The Kisan Sansad was completely disciplined and orderly, as already stated by SKM. In the morning, police tried to prevent the bus of Kisan Sansad participants from leaving for Jantar Mantar, but that was resolved subsequently.
Delhi Police also tried to prevent media from covering the Kisan Sansad proceedings and barricaded them far away from the location where the farmers were holding their Parliament. The shameful act by Delhi Police was condemned by SKM.
Detailed and disciplined debates held on various aspects of the anti-farmer APMC Bypass Act
In the Kisan Sansad, protesting farmers refuted the hollow claims of ministers of the Government of India that farmers have not really explained what their concerns with the 3 laws are, and are only harping about their repeal demand.
Read More: Hundreds of Farmers Conduct Farmers’ Parliament at Jantar Mantar to Repeal Farm LawsÂ
The participants in the Kisan Sansad raised several points with regard to the unconstitutional nature of the law, the undemocratic processes by which the Government of India brought them in, and the serious implications that the law will have on-farm livelihoods, as they discussed APMC Bypass Act in detail.
They showcased before the world their intimate knowledge of this black law, and why they are insistent on a full repeal and nothing less than that.
Delhi Police in its attempts to stifle democracy even after the Kisan Sansad started stopped farmers from conducting the proceedings. It also stopped media from the Farmers’ Parliament Proceedings. SKM condemns this shameful Act by Delhi Police.
Parliamentarians Come to Kisan Sansad to Extend Their Support
Meanwhile, the Kisan Sansad was in a way a good contrast to how the Parliament proceedings were running. Parliamentarians protested at the Gandhi Statue on Thursday morning, cutting across party lines, in support of the farmers’ movement. They were responding to the People’s Whip issued by the farmers. Many MPs also visited the Kisan Sansad. As has been the norm in the Kisan Andolan, SKM leaders thanked the MPs for extending their support to the farmers’ struggle, but no stage space or mike time was given to the Parliamentarians. They were instead requested to be the farmers’ voice inside the Parliament.
Protect Sardar Baldev Singh’s Health and Release Arrested Farmers Demands SKM
In Sirsa, the indefinite hunger fast of the 80-years old Sardar Baldev Singh Sirsa entered the fifth day on Thursday. His general health condition has become weak and has deteriorated. He has lost six kilos of weight so far, and his BP and Glucose levels have declined significantly.
Also read: Environmental Activists Understand the Unsustainability of Farm Laws: SKM
He started fasting, saying that either he will secure the release of colleagues, or give up his life for this. Samyukt Kisan Morcha has warned the Haryana Government of an intense response from the movement if anything happens to Sardar Baldev Singh Sirsa, and said that the protection of his health is squarely the responsibility of the Haryana Government.
SKM demanded once again that the arrested young farmer leaders be released immediately, and the cases withdrawn by the government without any further delay.
Samyukt Kisan Morcha also paid deep respect to two senior leaders of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Shri T Ramaswamy, and Shri Ramanna Channapatna, who were killed in an unfortunate road accident, after the Martyrs Memorial meeting at Nargund in Gadag district on Wednesday. Their passing away is a deep loss for the farmer unions and farm movement in Karnataka, SKM said.
Repeal the Three Farm Laws: SKM
The government of India has relaxed the stock limits imposed on pulses, claiming that retail prices have eased after some regulatory and import-related decisions were taken by it. SKM said addressed the Government saying that this is precisely the kind of regulatory authority that the government should be holding, to act on behalf of ordinary citizens.
Also read: Tear These Farm Laws Away: A Conversation with a Farmer’s Daughter
SKM said that its fight is against de-regulation that favours hoarders and black-marketeers, at the expense of farmers and consumers, and reiterated its demand for a full repeal of the Essential Commodities Amendments Act 2020, along with the other two central laws. It pointed out that the Government is able to take up some measures now thanks to the Supreme Court suspending the implementation of the law, due to the farmers’ agitation.
The statement was issued by SKM.
