SKM Asks Farmers in West Bengal Not to Vote for BJP

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has arrived in West Bengal after leading a series of protests in Delhi calling for the abolition of the three farmers' laws. 

The SKM, an umbrella body of 40 farmers' unions, has urged agriculturalists and the citizens of Bengal ‘not to vote for the BJP’ ahead of the state's assembly elections. 

SKM leader Yogendra Yadav accused the BJP-led Central government of enacting "anti-agriculture" laws without consulting farmers, claiming that this could lead to the abolition of the entire peasantry in the country. 

The BJP leadership has consistently referred to the protesting farmers as anti-nationals or terrorists. Farmers have never had an open conversation with the government about how to address their problems. Tear gas and water cannons were fired at agitating farmers at the BJP's appeal, and they were wrongly accused.  

"We appeal to Bengal's farmers not to cast a single vote for the BJP in the state's upcoming assembly elections," Yadav said at a press conference on Friday. 

'We don't know who will vote for which party, but the farmers must ensure that the lotus does not receive a single vote,' he added.

The SKM claims that if the Centre loses the election, the three farm laws will be abolished. Farmers at Ramlila Maidan were also sent a letter from the farmers' body, asking them not to vote for the BJP in the upcoming elections. While accusing the BJP of attempting to "sell the government" to a few companies, social activist Medha Patkar urged voters to exercise their right to vote with caution. 

Patkar, who chastised the Centre for "insulting" the farmers' movement, said that even the British occupiers had not resorted to the actions that the current government is committing. She applauded the West Bengal assembly's passage of a resolution opposing the farm rules.