Unhappy with the Centre for not implementing the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendation on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, and for not giving loan waivers, the Rashtriya Kisan Mahasangh (RKM) — an amalgamation of over 60 farmers’ organisations — has decided to ‘gherao Delhi’ in protest on February 23.
“The BJP promised to implement the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission in their election manifesto during the 2014 general polls but have taken a U-turn after coming to power. What has been announced in the Union Budget is eyewash. The country’s farmer are feeling cheated, hence we have decided to ‘gherao Delhi’,” said Gurnam Singh, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Haryana) and a core committee member of the RKM.
“While the government conveniently helps the corporate sector, the farmers are left in the lurch. We are left with no choice but to go to Delhi. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha will reach Delhi to stage protest,” he added.
‘Farmers in trouble’
Mr. Singh said implementation of MSP on the basis of the Swaminathan Commission is required urgently because lower prices of agricultural produce, which are disproportionate to the prices of farm inputs, have resulted in farmers sinking in debt. “Besides farm debt waiver should be announced immediately,” he added.
Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, who headed the National Commission on Farmers, had in his report recommended fixation of MSP for agriculture crops on the basis of actual cost of production plus 50% profit.
The commission had also recommended several measures to prevent farmers’ suicides and achieve faster and inclusive growth.
“We will peacefully demonstrate on February 23 in support of our demands but if the government fails to announce loan waiver soon and fulfil other demands then we will take a call on future strategy of our struggle,” Mr. Singh said.
