Chandigarh: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which has been cautious of supporting the continued farmers’ protest on the Punjab and Haryana border, has determined to actively oppose the leaders of the agitation in case they comply with the Centre’s proposal made on the fourth spherical of talks held Sunday night time.
Chatting with mediapersons early Monday following the five-hour assembly with farmer leaders, Union ministers Arjun Munda, Nityanand Rai and Piyush Goyal mentioned the federal government had provided to present a assure that its companies would buy cotton, corn and sure pulses at minimal help worth (MSP) for 5 years.
Nonetheless, this provide was restricted to these farmers who selected to develop these crops whereas shifting from water-guzzling paddy with a view to promote crop diversification.
Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarvan Singh Pandher, the prime leaders of the continued agitation who participated within the talks, advised the media that the talks have been “positive” and mentioned they might take a ultimate resolution on the proposal after speaking to their supporters protesting on the Shambhu and Khanauri borders.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had additionally participated within the talks, advised reporters the “five-year contract” was akin to a authorized assure. He mentioned he was hopeful that the farmers and the Authorities of India would arrive at a mutually agreed resolution.
Nonetheless, the SKM, in a press assertion issued Monday, mentioned the outfit “outrightly rejects” the proposal made by the Union ministers in Chandigarh Sunday.
“The proposal to have a five-year contract with farmers to procure five crops, namely maize, cotton, arhar/tur, masur and urad at MSP (has been) calculated using the formula A2+FL+50 percent (paid out cost plus imputed value of family labour) to promote crop diversification. Nothing below MSP calculated at the rate of C2+50 percent (paid out cost plus imputed value of family labour plus rental value of owned land and interest on fixed capital) for all crops with guaranteed procurement is acceptable to the farmers of India. If the Modi government is unable to implement the promise made by the BJP, then let the prime minister be honest to tell that to the people,” mentioned the assertion.
An MSP calculated on a C2 components can be a lot greater than the one calculated on an A2+FL foundation.
“In case the leaders of the ongoing agitation agree to this (Centre’s proposal), we will oppose them. This proposal is nothing new. The central government agencies are already procuring these crops at MSP,” Balbir Singh Rajewal, senior SKM chief, advised ThePrint Monday.
Farmers half of the present agitation that began on 13 February have been urgent for a authorized assure of MSP for his or her produce, amongst different issues. The primary three rounds of talks between farmer leaders and Union ministers did not yield any outcomes.
The SKM has been cautious of the continued agitation however has been supporting it from exterior, saying separate protests.
Dallewal heads SKM (non-political) and Pandher heads the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, each of which aren’t a part of the SKM, which is a conglomerate of over 30 farmer organisations from Punjab that had led the 2020-2021 farmers’ agitation on the Singhu (Delhi-Haryana) border.
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‘No transparency in discussion’
The SKM mentioned in its assertion that the Union ministers weren’t able to make clear whether or not the MSP they proposed was primarily based on the A2+FL+50% or C2+50% components.
“There is no transparency in the discussion though discussions have taken place four times. This is against the democratic culture established by SKM during the 2020-2021 historic farmers’ struggle at Delhi borders. During those negotiations, every point of discussion and the stand of farmers was placed for public information by the SKM,” the assertion added.
“SKM demands the Union ministers to clarify why the Modi government is silent on the demands of loan waiver, no privatisation of electricity, comprehensive public sector crop insurance scheme, Rs 10,000 monthly pension to farmers above 60 years of age, (to) dismiss and prosecute Ajay Mishra Teni, Union MoS (home), the main conspirator of Lakhimpur Kheri massacre of farmers, among others,” mentioned the assertion.
The SKM had Sunday given a name to organise peaceable demonstrations in constituencies of MPs of the BJP and the BJP-led Nationwide Democratic Alliance throughout India on 19 and 20 February.
The overall physique assembly of the SKM is scheduled for 21 and 22 February, and can take inventory of the state of affairs and plan the long run plan of action.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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