Make MSP a Legal Right: Farmers Place their Demand Before PM Modi

On Sunday, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha sent an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting an early resumption of discussions with the government on their six demands, which include legislation ensuring a minimum support price (MSP) for all farmers. 

The farmers unions from all across the nation also urged the removal of proceedings against farmers as well as the construction of a memorial for protestors who died during the agitation against the three disputed Central agricultural regulations. 

Despite the prime minister's unexpected Friday declaration that the three agri-laws will be abolished, farmer representatives have stated that they would not budge until the legislation is formally repealed in Parliament. They have also stated that the campaign for statutory MSP guarantees and the withdrawal of the Electricity Amendment Bill would continue. 

“We have written an open letter to the Prime Minister. We will emphasise several issues, including a legal mandate for MSP. The details of the committee being formed on MSP have been discussed in the letter. The Electricity Amendment Bill is a key point in the letter. The Lakhimpur Kheri incident and our demands of action against the Union Minister (Union MoS Ajay Mishra) have been mentioned as well,” said Balbir Singh Rajewal of BKU. 

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) also held a news conference at the protest location outside Delhi's Singhu border, stating that agricultural unions will continue to hold numerous protest activities as planned and that a critical meeting would be held on November 27. 

Aside from the electricity bill and the demand that any penal action against farmers for air pollution be dropped, the letter referred to the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri incident in UP, in which four protesters were killed after being hit by a convoy of three vehicles, one of which was owned by Minister of State Ajay Mishra. The Letter stated that “Ajay Mishra Teni, the mastermind of Lakhimpur Kheri murder case and accused of section 120B, is still roaming freely and remains a Minister in your cabinet. He is also sharing the stage with you and other senior ministers. He should be sacked and arrested,”. 

These developments have all taken place ever since Prime Minister Modi announced the repealment of the three farm laws last Friday. 

These bills are the following: the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.