The agitation was suspended on Thursday by farmers’ organizations following an agreement reached by the central government on a proposal. The decision was announced after 378 days of discussion at the Samyukt Kisan Morcha meeting. The farmers will return home on December 11. Tents start uprooting from the Delhi border; all farmer fronts of Punjab to end on December 15.
Farmers Protest: Highlights
- Farmers have started removing tents from Delhi-Haryana’s Singhu border
- Farmers’ victory march at Singhu and Tikri borders on December 11, according to sources
- Punjab farm leaders plan to pay obeisance at Golden Temple on December 13
- Samyukta Kisan Morcha to hold another meeting in Delhi on December 15
- Farmer leader Balvir Singh Rajewal said the movement has not ended but has been postponed; the fronts are scrapped
- The central government had sent a new proposal on Wednesday
- Earlier the Samyukt Kisan Morcha disagreed on the government’s proposal on Tuesday.
- Farmer leader Gurnam Singh Chadhuni said, “We will hold a review meeting on January 15. If the government does not fulfill its promises, we can resume the movement.”
End to the Farmers Protest
Farmers who have been protesting for more than 15 months against farm (repealed) laws and other issues including the Minimum Support Price (MSP) legal guarantee have announced that they will end their protest on Saturday, December 11, and return to their homes. Farmers’ unions organized Fateh Ardas (prayer for victory) at 5:30 pm today, as well as Fateh March (victory march) at the Singhu and Tikri protest sites on the Delhi border on December 11 at 9am, sources said. Punjab farm leaders plan to worship at the Gold Temple in Amritsar on December 13. Samyukta Kisan Morcha, or SKM, will hold another meeting in Delhi on December 15.
Farmers on Delhi’s Borders Preparing for ‘Homecoming’
After the withdrawal of all the three agricultural laws, farmers on Delhi’s borders have also started preparing for ‘homecoming’. Farmers who have been stuck at the Singhu-Kundli border for the past one year are now returning. Farmers have started uprooting their tents built on the border and keeping tarpaulins, beds in trucks and tractors. The five-member committee met after sending a letter from the government and declared an end to the farmers movement.
Samyukt Kisan Morcha Will Meet Again on January 15 to Review
The 378-day farmers’ agitation along the Delhi border has come to an end. Farmer leader Balbir Rajewal on Thursday said the arrogant are bowing to the government. However, this is not the end of the front. We have postponed it. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha will meet again on January 15 to review the agitation. Farmers have started uprooting tents at the Singhu border.
Multiple Victory March Planned by Farmers’ Unions
On the other hand, 32 farmers’ organizations in Punjab, which led the agitation, have also made their own program, which will have a victory march from Delhi to Punjab on December 11. Farmers from Singhu and Tikri border will leave for Punjab together. After that, on 15th December, the fronts at about 113 places in Punjab will be abolished. 28 farmers’ organizations in Haryana have also chalked out a separate strategy.
Consensus Between Center and Farmers
MSP: The Central Government will form a committee to take representatives of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. The crops which are now getting MSP will continue. The purchases made on MSP will also not be reduced.
Case Withdrawal: Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments have agreed to withdraw the case. Cases registered by railways along with Delhi and other Union Territories will also be scrapped immediately.
Compensation: Compensation has also been agreed upon in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Like the Punjab Government, compensation of Rs.5 lakhs will be given here. More than 700 farmers have died in the kisan agitation.
Electricity Bill: The government will not take the Electricity Amendment Bill directly to Parliament. First, it will be discussed with all concerned parties including the farmers.
Pollution Act: Farmers had objections to section 15 of the Pollution Act, which provides for penalty, not imprisonment for farmers. It will be removed by the Central Government.
Central Government Met Directly With the 5 Members High Power Committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha
This Time, the Central Government held a meeting with the High Power Committee of 5 Members of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha directly. High Power Committee members Balbir Rajewal, Gurnam Chadhuni, Ashok Ranle, Yudhvir Singh and Shivakumar Kakka reached the Office of the All India Kisan Sabha in New Delhi where officials of the Union Home Ministry also joined in through video conferencing. The farmers were bent upon withdrawing the cases against farmers and the Centre agreed to withdraw immediately.
According to an ANI tweet, “Protesting farmers receive a letter from Govt of India, with promises of forming a committee on MSP and withdrawing cases against them immediately”
“As far as the matter of compensation is concerned, UP and Haryana have given in-principle consent,” it reads
Background of Farmers Agitation
The spark of the kisan movement started from Punjab itself. On June 5, 2020, the Center introduced the Agricultural Reforms Bill in Parliament. These were then passed on September 17. This was followed by the first protest in Punjab. The agitation started from Punjab on September 24. Three days later, the law was enacted with the approval of the President. Then, on 25th November, the farmers marched to Delhi.
Haryana sealed the borders as soon as agitation was announced where there was lathicharge on the farmers. Water splashes were released. The farmers broke the barricades and entered Haryana. The next day, the Haryana government also had to retreat. Farmers started agitation at Singhu and Tikri border in Delhi.
The 11-Round Talks Between Government and Farmers Were Inconclusive
11 rounds of talks of farmers with the Central Government took place, but the farmers stuck to the condition of yes or no to withdraw the law. After which the talks remained closed for a long time. January 26, 2021 witnessed some protesters reaching the Red Fort in Delhi during the tractor march. There were few incidents of violence in Delhi. There were various allegations against the farmers movement, but the farmers stood firm.
PM Modi Announced the Withdrawal of Law
Pm Narendra Modi announced withdrawal of all the three agricultural laws on guru nanak dev ji’s prakash parv on November 19. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on November 29. The farmers then demanded a law on guarantee of MSP. However, it has now been agreed that the Centre’s committee will also include members of the Samyukt Farmers Morcha. In addition, the Centre has also given a written report on the withdrawal of the case. After which the Kisan agitation ended on Thursday after 378 days.
The Peaceful Agitation Lost 700 Lives
The kisan movement, which lasted for more than a year, was completely peaceful. In spite of this, more than 700 farmers died. Farmers remained in the storm along the Delhi border in addition to severe cold, scorching heat and rain. Several farmers were killed during this period who have been given the status of martyrs by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
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