SKM goes to Punjab PPP leader’s Gherao residence, press center to take on farmers’ demands

A leader of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM0) said the outfit will conduct surveillance at the residences of BJP leaders in Punjab for three days from Tuesday to force the Center to accept farmers’ demands, including minimum levy on crops Legal guarantee to back up price.

Several farmers’ groups under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) have extended support to the ‘Delhi Chalo’ call issued by the SKM (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Security forces blocked the march at Shambhu and Khanauri points on the Punjab-Haryana border, sparking clashes.

Protesting farmers have stayed in Shambhu and Khanauri for the sixth day after their march to the national capital was halted. A group of federal ministers and farmer leaders will hold a fresh round of talks with farm leaders in Chandigarh on Sunday evening. The two sides also held meetings on February 8, 12 and 15, but the talks still produced no results.

Balbir Singh Rajewal, leader of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organization of several farmers’ unions, said they will meet with the Punjab BJP leaders from Tuesday to Thursday. Protests were held in front of the residences of members of parliament, provincial councilors and regional chairpersons.

While interacting with reporters after a meeting of SKM leaders, Rajewal said they have also decided to hold protests at all toll plazas in the state and make them free for all commuters from February 20 to 22. The SKM will not accept anything less than the MSP formula of C-2 plus 50 per cent as recommended in the Swaminathan Commission report, farmer leader Balkaran Singh Brar said after the meeting Singh Brar and Boota Singh were also present.

Rajewal said the meeting also discussed the long-pending demands of farmers, the ongoing agitation by SKM (apolitical) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and their multiple rounds of talks with central ministers.

He also said that the SKM will hold a high-level meeting in Delhi on February 22 to chart a future strategy based on the earlier demands made to the Center during the 2021 agitation against the now-repeated farm laws. “Our struggle will continue even if the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections comes into effect,” he said in reply to a reporter’s question.

Apart from legal safeguards for MSP, farmers also demand implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, pension for farmers and farm workers, farm debt waiver, no hike in power tariffs, withdrawal of police cases and justice for victims in 2021. Lakhimpur Kheri violence, restoration of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died in previous riots in 2020-21.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)