Farm unions on Saturday said they would continue their agitation across states until all their “rightful demands”, including a law that guarantees minimum support prices (MSPs) for farm produce, were met by the Modi government. The farmers’ resolution comes a day after the Modi government said it would repeal the three farm laws .
A statement from the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella platform for farm unions, said cultivators would gather in Lucknow in thousands for a mahapanchayat on November 22 to demand a legal guarantee on MSP. An MSP is a floor rate for farm produce meant to help avoid distress sale.
The SKM also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for skipping any comment on the MSP issue, while announcing his decision on Friday to roll back the farm laws in a nationally televised speech.
“While the Prime Minister of India announced his Government’s decision to repeal 3 black farm laws, he chose to remain silent on the pending demands of farmers,” a joint statement of key farm unions said.
The SKM also demanded sacking of Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra Teni. The minister’s son had been arrested after his vehicle ploughed through farmers returning from a protest in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri. Eight people were killed in the incident. The farm unions said, besides a law on MSPs, they want all cases filed against farmers to be withdrawn unconditionally.
