Protests against the New Food Corporation of India Guidelines

There were protest demonstrations at many Mandis today, on the call of Samyukt Kisan Morcha. In addition to being unresponsive to protesting farmers’ legitimate demands, the Government of India’s Food Corporation of India has brought in new quality specifications and procurement norms in a direct attack on the procurement regime and the ongoing protests. There were memoranda submitted in the name of the Prime Minister of India from different protest locations all over the country.

On the shahadat Diwas of Muzara Lehar movement martyrs (a movement in the early twentieth century that secured rights for oppressed tenant farmers), the family members of the martyrs were felicitated at the Tikri Border protest site today. They were welcomed warmly into the protest there.

In Punjab, farmer unions joined hands with Arhtiya Association representatives in several places in their protest today. In many locations like Sangrur, Barnala, Jagraon, Rampura, and other places, protest meetings were organised against the new FCI guidelines. Memoranda were submitted to Deputy Commissioners. Similarly, in Kurukshetra and Sirsa of Haryana, Mandi Secretaries received memoranda addressed to the PM. Reports are coming in about such protests in Uttar Pradesh also.

SKM extends its full support to the call given by the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions against privatisation of public sector entities and against 4 recently enacted labour codes. The protests planned at Panchayat, tehsil, and district level on 24th and 25th March have the support and solidarity of SKM.

In Bihar’s Sitamarhi, thousands of farmers took part in a Kisan Mahapanchayat organised there.

A well-attended Shraddhanjali meeting took place in Bangalore today to pay respects to the martyrs of the current farmers’ movement. Leaders of SKM joined this meeting.

Also read: First Mahapanchayt in Karnataka at Shivamogga on March 20, 2021

On Thursday, a Mitthi Satyagrah yatra was started from Barwani Rajghat (Madhya Pradesh).

A Kisan Mahapanchayat organised in Odisha saw a massive turnout of Odia farmers joining the movement. Senior leaders of SKM took part in this Jan Sabha organised by Odisha Navnirman Krushak Sanghatan.

On the 14th day of the Kisan Mazdoor Jagriti Yatra that set off in Uttarakhand, it reached Sitapur in UP where it received a warm welcome. Traders associations joined the public and committed to making the Bandh call of 26th a success.