Teach BJP, allies a lesson in elections: Samyukt Kisan Morcha in UP capital

The rally drew thousands of farmers from east UP, which has been relatively less engaged in the farm agitation, too. Beginning November 29, when Parliament’s winter session commences, tractors will reach Delhi borders every day until the session ends, as a mark of continuing the agitation, SKM said.

Along with his announcement that farm laws would be taken back, PM Modi had last Friday said a committee would be constituted to make MSP system more effective and transparent. Addressing farmers, Bhartiya Kisan Union chief Rakesh Tikait referred to Modi’s recommendations to the Centre about making a law on MSP, while heading a financial committee as Gujarat chief minister in 2011.

“The report is lying in the prime minister’s office. The nation does not need another committee, nor does it have time for another committee. The PM would have to answer if he would execute the recommendations made by his own committee,” Tikait said. Apart from the MSP law, there were other issues too like seed bill, milk policy, compensation to families of agitating farmers. “The government must talk to us; we are not going anywhere. SKM will hold meetings across the nation and galvanise the country,” he said.

“I want to appeal to the people of UP. The ball is in your court. We are not connected to politics. We are not into making people win or lose. Our only struggle is the way our livelihood is being snatched and given away to corporations. It is vital that we unseat them so that they are not able to take such decisions anymore,” BKU chief of Punjab Jagjit Dallewal said.

Farmers who came from other districts were firm in their resolve to end the stir after the legal guarantee on MSP and other demands are met. Making their case against the BJP-led UP government, they raised the issue of the state buying paddy at a rate much less than the MSP of Rs 1,900+ per quintal. Farmers said they were barely able to sell it for Rs 1,200-1,300 in mandis. Other issues included electricity rates, stray cattle eating produce and the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.

“It is only because of what the union minister (Ajay Mishra) has done that farmers are going against the UP government, otherwise things were fine. The murder had a deep impact,” Ajay Narayan Singh, an 80-year old farmer from Hardoi told ET. He lamented the rise of power rate – Rs 175 per HP in UP – when it is around Rs 30 in other states.