'Delhi Chalo': Why Are Farmers Protesting Again And What Are Their Demands?

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are heading to Delhi on Tuesday in a bid to press the BJP-led NDA government to accept their demands.

Over 200 farmers' unions are taking part in 'Delhi Chalo' under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political).

What are farmers demanding?

• The farmers want a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP).
• Implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations
• Pensions for farmers and farm labourers
• Farm debt waiver
• Withdrawal of police cases and "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence
• Reinstate the Land Acquisition Act 2013
• Withdraw from the World Trade Organisation
• Compensation for families of farmers died during the previous agitation, among others.
• Scrapping of Electricity Amendment Bill 2020
• Enforce stringent penalties and fines against companies engaged in the production of counterfeit seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers while enhancing the quality of seeds.
• Establish a national commission specifically dedicated to overseeing the production and trade of spices like chili and turmeric.
• Increase the annual employment provision under MGNREGA to 200 days, with a daily wage of Rs 700, and integrate the scheme with agricultural activities for greater synergy.

Are these the same groups that participated in the 2020 protests?

No, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) is a splinter group from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president of the Punjab-based Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Sidhupur farm union, leads this faction. Also, the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) was not part of the primary protests in 2020. It is led by Sarwan Singh Pandher, the convener of the Punjab-based union Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC).

It has to be noted that Rakesh Tikait and Gurnam Singh Charuni, who were prominent faces of the 2020 protest, are not part of this protest.