SKM Rejects August 22 Meeting of Committee on MSP

Leaders of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) expressed opposition to the planned committee meeting on Minimum Support Price (MSP) next week, calling the panel a "farce" and asserting that nothing conclusive will come out of the discussions.

The "anti-farmers panel" has already been rejected, according to the leaders, and they will not be present at the meeting on August 22. It must be noted that SKM is the organization of more than 40 farm unions.

According to government sources, the committee on MSP will hold its first meeting on August 22 to discuss over future plans. The meeting will be held at 10.30 am at the National Agriculture Science Complex (NASC) in the national capital, the sources added.

Sources said that the committee will announce its members, debate "future strategies," and consider creating sub-panels to address the broad topics specified in the terms of reference.

The government is currently trying to convince SKM to participate in the committee's discussions. It will be interesting to watch if it decides to reconsider and nominate three representatives as required under the deal.

Hannan Mollah, the leader of SKM, rejected the government's recommendation and stated that the agricultural organization is now determining the future course of action.

"We have already rejected of the panel and made it obvious that we would not be taking part in the talks. Therefore, attending the upcoming meeting is a certainty "explained Mr. Mollah.

"The government has inducted some so-called farmer leaders in the panel who didn't have anything to do with our protest against the three farm laws at the Delhi borders," he said.

The group will decide on the next course of action and determine how to stage protests against the farm laws.

Another farmer leader said we don't support the anti-farmer panel in any way and our protest is ongoing as the Centre breaks its 2017 promises. He said we also want the withdrawal of cases filed against farmers during the anti-farm laws protest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to form a committee to look into farmers' MSP issues when he announced the repeal of three farm laws in November last year.

The committee was constituted on July 18 with the goals of "promoting zero budget based farming," "changing crop patterns keeping in mind the changing needs of the country," and "making MSP more effective and transparent." The committee is led by former agricultural secretary Sanjay Agrawal. The committee consists of 26 members, including a chairperson, and three membership positions have been set aside for SKM representatives.

The members of the committee include Ramesh Chand, a member of Niti Aayog, CSC Shekhar from the Indian Institute of Economic Development, Sukhpal Singh from IIM-Ahmedabad, and Naveen P Singh, a senior member of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices are among the committee's members (CACP).