Farmers Rally for Reform: PM Urged to Engage with Union Ministers

In anticipation of a rendezvous with a panel from the Center, farmer luminary Sarwan Singh Pandher articulated on Thursday that the head of the state should engage in a discourse with the trio of Union ministers visiting to redress the grievances of the agrarian community.

The Minister of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Arjun Munda, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, are slated to confer with farmer representatives at 5 pm in Chandigarh concerning diverse demands, including the establishment of a statute assuring a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural produce.

From the podium at the Shambhu border, General Secretary of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Pandher, expressed the imperative need for the acceptance of the protesting farmers’ demands. “We ardently advocate for the premier to personally engage with the deputation (of Union ministers) en route for the forthcoming meeting and expedite the resolution of the farmers’ requisites,” he asserted.

“Our insistence is clear: either accede to our stipulations or permit us to engage in a tranquil demonstration,” the agricultural leader asserted. Condemning the use of “force” by paramilitary personnel against the farmers at the Punjab-Haryana border, Pandher denounced the deployment of security personnel by the Haryana authorities, citing numerous injuries.

He presented evidence of tear gas shells, contending that the paramilitary force deployed smoke cell air bursts and smoke cell ground bursts against the farmers. Despite the application of force, the farmer leaders maintained their resolve to engage in discussions with the three Union ministers on Thursday, Pandher affirmed.

In reference to the suspension of mobile internet services, Pandher alleged a nefarious intent by the government to “quash us (farmers) akin to the incidents in Manipur which we are currently witnessing.” The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are at the forefront of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation, exerting pressure on the Central government for their demands, encompassing a legislation guaranteeing MSP for crops and the annulment of loans.

Punjab farmers have congregated at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders as part of their ‘Delhi Chalo’ appeal. In addition to a legal assurance for MSP, the agrarians are also pressing for the realization of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pensions for farmers and laborers, agrarian debt absolution, withdrawal of legal actions, and “justice” for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act 2013, withdrawal from the World Trade Organization, and compensation for the families of farmers who succumbed during the preceding agitation further feature among their demands.