SKM holds protest to mark 4th anniversary of Delhi morcha

To mark the fourth anniversary of the Delhi morcha, the Sanyukat Kisan Morcha along with members of various trade unions staged a protest outside the District Administrative Complex here on Tuesday. The protesters alleged that promises made to farmers remain unfulfilled.

The protest started with farmers paying homage to those who died during the protest at Delhi borders. The farmers also demanded justice for the Lakhimpur Kheri violence victims.

Farmer leader Rattan Singh Randhawa said though the Central Government had promised the minimum support price (MSP) for all crops, the farmers in Punjab are still not getting it on crops other than paddy and wheat. He said the Central Government had also promised jobs for kin of 700 farmers who died during the agitation.

Another farmer leader Jatinder Singh Chinna said, “All the promises which the Central Government had made and on the basis of which the Sanyukat Kisan Morhca had called off its protest still remain unfulfilled.” He said the government and its leaders have lost their credibility by not fulfilling their words. Chinna said leaders ought to have credibility.

The protesters asked the Central Government to give a legal guarantee for MSP for crops, increase of minimum wages for skilled workers to Rs 26,000 per month, minimum 200 days’ work for labour under MGNREGA, and increase in MGNREGA wages to Rs 600 per day and Rs 10,000 pension for farmers above 60 years of age.

Farmers and farm workers present during the protest also demanded action against commission agents who had applied unnecessary cuts on the MSP during the purchase of paddy. The SKM leaders demanded that all FIRs registered against farmers for burning crop residue should be cancelled.

Other farmer leaders who addressed the gathering included Lakhbir Singh Nizampura, Sucha Singh Ajnala, Dhanwant Singh Khatrai Kalan, Gurdev Singh Varpal, Dalbir Singh Bedadpur, Sukhram Singh Loharka and others.