Farmers Reject Centres Proposal, Announce March to Delhi

Farmer leaders taking part in the Delhi Chalo agitation have rejected the Centres proposal of procuring pulses, maize, and cotton at MSP by government agencies for five years. They have announced that they will march towards the national capital on Wednesday.

In a significant development, farmer leaders participating in the ongoing Delhi Chalo agitation have rejected the Centre's proposal to procure pulses, maize, and cotton at minimum support prices (MSP) by government agencies for five years. The farmers have termed the proposal as not in their interest and have announced their decision to march towards the national capital on Wednesday, February 21.

Government's Proposal

During the fourth round of talks between farmer leaders and a panel of three Union ministers on Sunday, the government proposed to buy pulses, maize, and cotton crops by government agencies at MSP for five years after entering into an agreement with farmers. This proposal aimed to address the farmers' demand for MSP and provide them with a stable market for their produce.

Farmers' Rejection

However, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which spearheaded the 2020-21 farmers' stir, rejected the government's proposal. The SKM stated that the proposal seeks to divert and dilute the farmers' demand for MSP and that they will accept nothing less than the C-2 plus 50% formula for MSP as recommended in the Swaminathan Commission report.

Reasons for Rejection

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a leader of SKM Non-Political, explained the reasons behind rejecting the government's proposal. He highlighted that the proposal lacked substance and did not address the farmers' concerns effectively. Dallewal pointed out that the government had estimated an additional burden of Rs 1.50 lakh crore on the exchequer if it provided a guarantee on the purchase of pulses. However, he argued that an estimated Rs 1.75 lakh crore would be required if MSP was given for all crops.

Dallewal further criticized the government's focus on crop diversification, stating that the MSP would only be given to farmers who switched from paddy to pulses. He emphasized that this would not benefit farmers growing other crops and that the MSP should be based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) to ensure remunerative income for farmers.

Farmers' Demands

The protesting farmers have been demanding various concessions from the government, including a legal guarantee of MSP for crops, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm laborers, farm debt waiver, no hike in electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases, justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the previous agitation in 2020-21.

The rejection of the government's proposal by farmer leaders has intensified the ongoing agitation. The farmers' decision to march towards Delhi on Wednesday sets the stage for a potential confrontation with security forces. The government must engage in further negotiations and address the farmers' concerns to find a resolution that safeguards the interests of the farming community.