New Delhi : Farmers have scheduled a meeting of the Samkyukata Kisan Morcha (SKM) today where the future course of action will be decided.
“We have a meeting of the SKM on Saturday and the future course of our action will be decided only after that,” said the farmer union leaders.
Farmers have gathered in large numbers at the three Delhi border points of Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri on the day, which marks one year of their agitation against the three farm laws.
According to the farmer unions, the day will be remembered forever in history as one of the greatest moments of people’s struggle.
PM MODI WITHDRAWS FARM LAWS
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the three controversial farm laws would be withdrawn. Although farmer unions have welcomed the government’s move, they said their protest would continue until the laws are totally withdrawn and other demands are met.
“It has been a year of unmatched struggle mixed with happiness and sadness. We are fighting and winning. We will fight and win. MSP law is farmers’ right,” senior farmer leader Rakesh Tikait tweeted.
Thousands of farmers in tractors arrived at the three protest sites on Friday and many of them flaunting colourful turbans, sunshades, long beards and twirling moustaches danced on the roofs of tractors, distributed sweets and hugged each other to mark the occasion that seemed like a festival.
Samkyukata Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of protesting unions, claimed that lakhs of farmers took part in the assemblies, rallies, marches and chakka jams held in Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha among other states.
“This day marked twelve long months of the farmers struggle, with numerous victories which seemed unlikely, and even impossible, with a will and determination to continue to fight for the unfulfilled demands of the farmers,” the SKM said in a statement.
It also said that the farm movement stands as a testimony to the will of the common people to fight against an “unrelenting” government, and for a long time, will be remembered as an example of peaceful “satyagraha” inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian freedom movement.
DELHI TRAFFIC POLICE ISSUES ADVISORY
The Delhi Traffic Police has said that farmers have started to arrive in large numbers on the city borders. The police has asked commuters travelling from Ghaziabad towards the national capital to take alternative routes, anticipating traffic gridlock owing to its security arrangements.
“Traffic coming from Ghaziabad towards Delhi side remains heavy due to barricading by local police at roundabout Gazipur Underpass. Commuters are advised to take alternative Vikash Marg/GT Road to Delhi,” the Delhi Traffic Police tweeted.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), an influential farmers’ union from western Uttar Pradesh, has been leading the charge at the Ghazipur border since November last year.
“We have a meeting of the SKM on Saturday and the future course of our action will be decided only after that.
“We have planned a march towards Delhi on November 29, but SKM will take a call about it on Saturday,” BKU spokesperson Saurabh Upadhyay said.
He said, “Supporters in large numbers started reaching the border early Friday morning and by evening we are expecting over 50,000 people at Ghazipur alone.”
SKM in a statement said that the farmers’ body in its letter to the Prime Minister dated November 21, had raised six demands, which include legal guarantee of MSP for all produce based on C2+50% formula, withdrawal of draft “Electricity Amendment Bill, 2020/2021”.
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