Singhu Border, 19 July (Sangrami Lehar Bureao)- Today, the Parliament Monsoon Session began. Samyukt Kisan Morcha had issued a People’s Whip to all Parliamentarians before this, and many MPs were personally met by delegations of SKM representatives. Opposition MPs took into both Houses of the Parliament issues that the farmers’ movement has been raising over many months now. The Prime Minister sought to counter the slogans of the Opposition MPs by alleging that the Opposition Parties are not supportive of women, dalits, adivasis and other marginalised communities, and of children of farmers being elevated to the position of Ministers. Mr Narendra Modi’s statements (to defend a anti-people government which is being attacked for its failures on many fronts and which will face a tumultuous time in this Parliament session), are indeed hollow given that the Halls of the Parliament were echoing with slogans that went straight from the farmers’ movement into the Parliament. The slogans being raised were those of marginalised citizens who are being subjected to the government’s undemocratic and unconstitutional onslaught of laws and policies in various sectors. SKM would like to remind the Prime Minister that true respect and dignity would be accorded to marginalised communities of the country including women, dalits, adivasis, farmers and others in rural India, if their interests are really protected. This requires the government to repeal the 3 anti-farmer laws, 4 anti-worker labour codes and fuel prices at least halved, in addition to MSP being made a legal guarantee for all farmers. Empty defensive words are meaningless otherwise.
Samyukt Kisan Morcha notes that the Delhi Police, despite being clearly informed about the Parliament Protest plans of the farmers, is choosing to term it as “Sansad Gherao”. SKM has already informed that there are no plans of laying siege to the Parliament, and the protests will be peaceful and disciplined. Delhi Police is choosing to indulge in deliberate misinformation and SKM asks Delhi Police to desist from the same.
The indefinite hunger fast of Sardar Baldev Singh Sirsa had entered the second day today, at Sirsa. The administration has not yet met with the demands of the protesting farmers that all cases be withdrawn, and arrested farmer leaders released immediately. The Haryana Police and administration are overstepping their remit in slapping sedition and other serious charges on peacefully protesting farmers and this is completely unacceptable and objectionable.
A citizens’ committee of Chandigarh along with SKM Legal Cell’s Mr Prem Singh Bhangu met the Chandigarh administration today, in connection with the cases slapped against protestors, and three protestors being sent to judicial custody. The SSP assured that the demands put forward will be seriously considered and met. This includes bail for the arrested protestors, reconsidering of cases filed in the recent incidents as well as on June 26th and no further detentions and arrests.
BKU Kadian has issued a clarification that they have not put out any call for blocking of roads in Chandigarh. Neither SKM nor BKU Kadian has put out any such call, and any material and news being circulated in social media about such a call is fake, and should be ignored.
SKM notes that the Government of India has listed The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill 2021 (to replace the ordinance that was re-issued) as well as Electricity Amendments Bill 2021 under Legislative Business for the Monsoon Session. SKM warns the government against any reneging of the commitment made to the protesting farmers on December 30th 2020 on these matters.
SKM notes and appreciates the protest organised outside the Indian High Commission in London, by supporters of this farmers’ movement. It draws inspiration from the protestors who slept out in the open on the pavement, outside the High Commission, as part of the protest in London.
The protest townships of farmers at various borders are dealing with continuous rains. Farmers here are bravely and uncomplainingly putting up with the consequent hardships. They are in fact expressing happiness at the rains, because this is good for the kharif crops sown.
Some social media posters doing the rounds, asking for a siege of the Indian Parliament, are condemned squarely and strongly by Samyukt Kisan Morcha. As already stated on 14th July 2021, SKM points out that all such calls, genuine or fake, are anti-farmer, and against the interest of the ongoing farmers’ movement. SKM strongly condemns the same. SKM and the protesting farmers have nothing to do with such calls or any such organisation. SKM calls upon those generating posters and calls for action, to desist from deviating and diverting in any way, the just cause of farmers and their peaceful protests. This is a struggle of life and death for the farmers of the country, and any attempt to derail this is condemned.