The Central government has conceded to the demands of the protesting farmers unions to roll back the three contentious farm laws. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Friday announced during his address to the nation that the government had decided to withdraw the three farm laws and the same would be repealed during the Winter Session of Parliament starting later this month.
The Union Cabinet is likely to approve on Wednesday the withdrawal of the three farm laws and Bills would then be introduced in Parliament.
However, the farmers unions have now started to press for their remaining ‘six demands’.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) Sunday held a press conference at Delhi’s Singhu border and announced that they would continue the protests for now, despite the PM asking the protesting farmers go to back to their homes. The SKM has also decided to hold a crucial meeting on November 27 and organise a march to Parliament on November 29.
In an open letter which the group has written to the PM, a list of six demands has been presented. These include:
- Sovereign guarantee for Minimum Support Price or MSP
- Withdrawal of cases against farmers in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other states
- Allocation of land at Singhu border to construct a memorial for those who died during the protest against the three farm laws and compensation for the families of the dead
- Withdrawal of proposed Electricity Amendment Bill (2020-2021)
- Removal of penal provisions in the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act-2021
- Sacking of MoS (Home) Ajay Mishra whose son Ashish Mishra is an accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri killings
The SKM wrote in the letter on the Lakhimpur Kheri case that “Ajay Mishra Teni is roaming free and remains a minister in your Cabinet. He is sharing the stage with you and other senior ministers. He should be sacked and arrested.”
