The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of several farmers unions, has submitted a memorandum to the President Droupadi Murmu, seeking her immediate intervention regarding the deteriorating health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.
The farmers also urged action to stop the repression of protesters marching towards Delhi and demanded the release of all farmers imprisoned in Noida-Greater Noida’s Luksar Jail.
In the memorandum submitted on the occasion of National Farmers Day the SKM accused the central government of not adhering to democratic principles and consistently refusing to engage in discussions with agitating farmer groups. The memorandum stated, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is ignoring farmers’ demands and suppressing their voices through tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons.”
In the letter written the farmers have sought her attention over the several issues including safety of Dallewal’s Safety , banning the use of tear gas and other measures against peaceful protesters, Release of 112 farmers held in Luksar Jail, Noida-Greater Noida, revoking national agriculture market policy-terming it as a “backdoor reintroduction” of the repealed farm laws, issuing directions to the government for urgent discussions with farmer groups to address demands related to MSP, loan waivers, and other issues.
SKM accused the central government of violating the December 9, 2021, agreement with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. The memorandum also highlighted that farmers had submitted their grievances through district collectors to the President on November 26, 2024, yet no decisive action has been taken. The SKM claimed that the new National Agricultural Market Policy and Digital Agriculture Mission are strategies to establish corporate control over agriculture. The drastic cuts in food and fertilizer subsidies over the past three years have dealt a severe blow to farmers’ interests.
The SKM has urged the President to take immediate action on the farmers’ issues. The memorandum expressed hope that the President would seriously consider the farmers’ concerns and ensure prompt resolutions.
Need to unit farmers: BKU’S Rakesh Tikait
Chandigarh: The SKM leaders also held protests across the states for the pending demands of the farmers.
Meanwhile, a Youth Dialogue programme and a monthly panchayat were organized at Kisan Bhawan in Muzaffarnagar of Uttar Pradesh, to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh. Representatives from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Rajasthan participated in this panchayat alongside regional farmers.
Addressing the gathering of farmers National Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rakesh Tikait said that the farmers across the country have been protesting at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders for over 10 months, demanding the enactment of an MSP guarantee law and other pending issues.
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has been on a hunger strike for the past 28 days, yet the government remains unwilling to heed their demands.
Stressing the need to unite farmers of the country to press for these issues, he said that the BKU will hold panchayats at district headquarters across the nation on January 7, next year and submit memorandums addressed to the President, highlighting their demands. Additionally, more panchayats will be organized nationwide to amplify the farmers’ concerns.
“We will strongly oppose the government’s erroneous policies. Through new laws, the government is relentlessly attacking farmers’ rights and interests. Farmers protesting against land acquisition in Gautam Buddha Nagar were detained and imprisoned. In response, we will organize a panchayat on December 30 at Zero Point in Gautam Buddha Nagar.”, says Tikait.
Dallewal’s fast enters 28th day, doctors warn of dangers to his health
Chandigarh: Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal entered the 28th day of his hunger strike at Khanauri Border, with doctors warning of irreversible damage to his health.
On Kisan Diwas, farmer leaders in a statement expressed deep frustration, stating, “When the slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ was coined, farmers toiled day and night to make India self-reliant in food production. Yet today, the government refuses to even acknowledge our demands—a grave insult to farmers on this significant day.”
Farmers announced a Punjab Bandh on December 30, excluding medical and emergency services, with all other activities to remain closed from 7 AM to 4 PM.
A preparatory meeting for the Bandh, involving trade unions, social organizations, religious groups, and taxi unions, will be held at Khanauri on December 26.
In a show of nationwide solidarity, a candle march will be held at 5:30 PM on December 24, and district and tehsil-level protests, including symbolic hunger strikes, are planned on December 26.
