Kisans at the Punjab-Haryana border
Farmers, sitting on dharna at the Punjab Haryana border at Shambhu and Khanauri have announced that they will intensify their struggle for their demands.
The farmers’ organisations — the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Siddhupur), Bharatiya Kisan Union (Krantikari), Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab and others — have announced that from 26 November 2024, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal will sit on a fast unto death at the Khanauri border.From 6 December, jathas of farmers, consisting of about 50 farmers in each jatha, will march from the Punjab Haryana border to Delhi.
The farmers’ organisations have condemned the Central government and the government of Punjab for their callous disregard for the problems faced by farmers.
The farmers’ organisations are demanding guaranteed procurement at MSP for their crops. They are criticising the anti-farmer practice in the mandis, where farmers are paid less than even the government announced MSP, as a result of deductions in crop prices and weights. They have pointed to the skyrocketing prices of fertilisers, such as the increase in the cost of a bag of fertiliser from Rs 1,350 to Rs 1,750, which is pushing them to ruin.
Sarvan Singh Pandher, leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee justified the decision of the farmers’ organisations to escalate their struggle, pointing out that farmers have been sitting at the borders of Shambhu and Khanauri since 13 February. “The last meeting with the government took place on18 February this year, and it remained inconclusive. …..the government is not bothered about farmers at all. It is just paying lip service when it says that it is worried about farmers’ welfare but in reality, it is not bothered at all. Nearly 30 farmers have died while sitting at the dharna spots of Shambhu and Khanauri since mid-February. Shubhkaran Singh was killed due to firing by security forces from the Haryana side when farmers were trying to cross the border at Khanauri.”
It may be recalled that on 26 November 2020, farmers of the country began a historic protest at the Delhi borders, after the Central government preventedthem from carrying out a peaceful protest in the capital, by putting up barricades at all the borders of Delhi. The farmers were demanding the withdrawal of three anti-farmer laws, a legally guaranteed MSP for all agricultural produce, and other demands. Nearly 13 months later, in December 2021, the government withdrew the three anti-farmerlaws and signed an agreement with farmers’ organisations promising to fulfil their demand for MSP and other demands. However, four years later, the Central government has refused to fulfil the demand for a legally guaranteed MSP for all crops.
Farmers in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan protest shortage of fertiliser DAP
Farmers’ unions in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan have been protesting over the shortage ofDi-ammonium Phosphate (DAP)fertiliser and the slow procurement of paddy. Farmers have expressed their worry that both these factors will affect the sowing of the wheat crop.
DAP is the main fertiliser used while sowing wheat. However the godowns of the government run Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendra (PMKSK) have no stock of DAP. Farmers are forced to procure it from private shops at much higher prices. Private shops charge as much as Rs 2,000 a bag as opposed to government shops which are supposed to charged Rs 1,350 per bag. These conditionsare forcing them to buy other fertilisers, which are not so effective.
According to farmers, every other year, there is a shortage of DAP. However, the government has made no effort to address this problem.
Farmers’ union leaders are pointing out thatthe shortage is a planned and deliberate move by the government to increase prices. The government is working in the interests of the capitalists in the fertiliser industry, who want to make maximum profits on sale of fertilisers to farmers.
Farmers in Tamilnadu protest land acquisition
Farmers in Tamilnadu have been protesting against the forcible acquisition of their lands for the Cheyyar Project by the state government. The Cheyyar Project is to establish an Industrial Park near Cheyyar town, in Tiruvannamalai District.
The State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamilnadu (SIPCOT) has been tasked with acquiring land of farmers and then handing it out to various capitalists for their projects. Two SIPCOT units are operational near Cheyyar. The TN government plans to establish a third unit by acquiring 3,174 acres of agricultural land across Melma and surrounding villages.
The centre of the protest is in Melma village and ten surrounding villages. The protest has completed over 500 days.
Farmers are pointing out that this acquisition threatens their livelihood and have been demanding the cancellation of project. The protest is being organised under banner of Melma SIPCOT Farmers’ Movement.
Many other farmers’ organisations have extended their support to the Melma farmers. These include Karnataka Farmers Union, Kerala Natural Farmers Union, TN Farmers Protection Association, TN Farmers Union and Cauvery Farmers Protection Association.
The struggle of the farmers’ organisations for their rights is an entirely just struggle. It enjoys the support of the entire working class and people.