FARMER UNION ANNOUNCES PROTEST EVERYDAY DURING MONSOON SESSION
Farmers have been protesting at Delhi's borders since November 2020, demanding that the Center’s three contentious farm laws be rolled back as these laws leave the farmers at the mercy of large corporations and new farm law be made that guarantees minimum support price for crops. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SMK), spearheading the protests announced at a press conference on Sunday that a group of 200 farmers will protest outside the Parliament everyday during the Monsoon Session which is set to begin on July 19. A ‘chetavani patra or otherwise called a warning letter’ is said to be given to all opposition MPs to protest against the laws inside the House.
Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal further added that the body will ask the opposition to raise the matter inside the House and requested they not walk out of the session to the benefit of the Center. The SKM have asked people to come out with whatever vehicle they have to the nearest state or national highway and appealed to blow their vehicle’s horn for eight minutes at 12pm. Encouraged women to come out and be a part of the protests.
On July 1, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar maintained that the farm laws are necessary reforms to boost the overall economy as productivity in agriculture is low. In addition, said that these laws will bring see investment and growth in the sector, which will uplift nearly half the population. Therefore, the Center is willing to sit down with the cultivators to hold talks but would not entertain demand to repeal the laws.
In response to the aforementioned statement, Rajewal said that the sit down won’t happen as long as there are conditions attached to these talks. Demanded that the government scrape the legislation entirely. Key leader of the unions Darshan Pal said that farmers have already stated why the amendments won’t work, discussing particular provisions that the farmers have a problem with will only set the stage for a fresh deadlock.
Since protests near the Parliament are barred the march into the capital will likely be met with resistance from the Delhi Police.