Farmer’s Protest Update

The Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha initiated the ‘Delhi Chalo’ movement to put pressure on the center for their demands, which include a law on the minimum support price for loan waivers and crops.

After a night halt, the protesting farmer, undeterred by clashes with police at the Punjab-Haryana border, will resume their march towards Delhi over a list of demands. For security reasons, the authorities closed the Singhu and Tikri borders, and the Red Fort complex was also temporarily closed.

Delhi Police enforced Section 144, which restricted the entry of large assemblies and tractor trolleys, to maintain peace and order. Security used tear gas to disperse the crowd. In this protest, a dozen people have been injured.

Also, Sarvan Singh Pandher, the General Secretary of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, hoped for a settlement after the communication between farmer leaders and the center on Thursday. He said, “We are hoping that we will get a resolution.”.

What are the farmers demands?

Farmers are asking for MSP guarantees for 23 crops, debt waivers backed by law, and the withdrawal of cases filed against them during the 2020–21 farmer’s protest. They also want a minimum purchase price for crops.

In 2021, the government announced that they would form a group of growers and devise strategies to secure support prices for all products. Farmers criticize the government for not fulfilling its promises.

In 2016, Modi’s government promised that they would aim to double the farmer’s income by 2022 and set up investment in rural development. They also want the government to fulfill its promises and double their income, as over the past years there has been an increase in the cost of cultivation, which has caused losses in farming.

Famers are also requesting the government take action against a federal minister whose son was jailed during the 2021 protest because he killed four protesting farmers.