The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have called for a 'rail roko' protest on Sunday in support of their various demands. On Saturday, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal urged the Centre not to avoid its responsibility of providing legal assurance for MSP on all crops, as farmers prepare to participate in the proposed 'rail roko' protest on March 10 to press for their demands.
Referring to reports, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) leader Dallewal rejected the Centre's plan to carry out guaranteed procurement of pulses (tur, urad, and masoor), maize, and cotton at a Minimum Support Price (MSP). Dallewal emphasized that farmers must be given MSP on all crops for their survival under the "C2 plus 50 per cent" formula recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.
Furthermore, he dismissed claims that MSP on all crops would increase inflation, stating that the government should instead focus on reducing taxes on fuel to reduce the burden on the common people.nvolve a huge outlay.
Dallewal has stated that the government is importing palm oil worth Rs 1.38 lakh crore, but it is unable to spend money on farmers by giving them MSP on all crops. He also added that the government should not escape from its responsibility, and a law on MSP should be implemented to save the country's farmers.
In the meantime, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher informed reporters that the protesting farmers would block railway tracks in various places in Punjab, including Ferozepur, Amritsar, Rupnagar, and Gurdaspur districts.
The Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), Bharti Kisan Union (Dakaunda-Dhaner), and the Krantikari Kisan Union, farmers' organizations that are part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, will also participate in the 'rail roko' agitation.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha has expressed its support to the protesting farmers camped at the Shambhu and the Khanauri border points, but it is not part of the "Delhi Chalo" call.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are leading the "Delhi Chalo" march to put pressure on the government to fulfill farmers' demands, which include a legal assurance of MSP on all crops. The farmers have been protesting and camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since their march to Delhi was halted by security forces on February 13th.
Previously, farmer leaders had rejected the BJP-led Centre's proposal to procure pulses, maize, and cotton at MSP by government agencies for five years, stating that it wasn't in favor of the farmers. During the fourth round of talks with the farmer leaders on February 18th, a panel of three Union ministers proposed that government agencies purchase pulses, maize, and cotton at MSP for five years after making an agreement with the farmers.
The demands include pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act - 2013, and compensation to families of farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21.
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