Kerala farmers start indefinite protest in solidarity with farmers agitating in National Capital

Farmers under the joint farmer's council in Southern state of Kerala have started an indefinite protest in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday in solidarity with the farmers agitating at the Delhi-Haryana Singhu border against the contentious farm laws passed by the central government.  

The indefinite strike, launched in front of the Palayam Martyr’s column, was inaugurated by S Ramachandran Pillai, CPI (M) Polit Bureau member & national vice-president of the All India Kisan Sabha. 

Members of the joint council will stage a protest every day in front of the Martyr’s column from 10 am to 7 pm, according to the Times of India. The council will also reportedly hold similar protests across Kerala in the coming days in support of the farmers protesting at Singhu border. 

Farmers have been protesting indefinitely at Singhu against the 3 recently passed laws i.e. Farmer’s Produce Trade & Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 & the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 i.e. raising concerns that these laws would suppress the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and procurement system. 

Extending solidarity to the farmers in Singhu, Pillai said that the Centre will have to accede to the demands of the hardworking farmers of the country. This fight by farmers is for the right of life, he said.

Ramachandran also added that the laws passed by the Central government will not only affect farmers but also adversely affect all those who utilise agricultural products. All the 3 laws ultimately aim to hand over farm products into the hands of corporates, Ramachandran says as per Malayala Manorama report. 

K Prakash Babu, CPI Assistant Secretary said that about 600 farmer unions have joined the protests so far. This shows how deep-rooted the farmers’ concerns are, he added.  

The joint council members also asked all farmers in the state to come out and extend their support to the ongoing protests.