The farmers at the Gazipur border on Friday marked the first anniversary of the protest against the farm laws. The completion of one year of farmers’ protest coincides with the repeal of three farm laws, which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week. As the government climbed down on the three farm laws just a few months ahead of the crucial elections in five states, the protesting farmers see this as an opportunity to push for the law on Minimum Support Price.
Speaking to a news agency, Kawarveer Singh, a farmer from Pilibhit district in Uttar Pradesh, claimed, “In the last one year, during the protest, almost two farmers have died per day at Delhi borders while agitating against the farm laws. The future generation would understand that how farming and land were saved by the farmers.”
“However, the ground reality has not changed. Over the years, prices of diesel, insecticides, and pesticides are soaring. We are now realising the side effects of the Green Revolution. We can recover our cost only if you pay us the actual cost of the produce. So for this, we are protesting and demanding a law on MSP,” he added.
A “Kisan Mahapanchayat” began in Bahadurgarh of Jhajjar district in Haryana on the first anniversary of the protest against the three farm laws.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the farmers have always been held in high esteem in India and their victory is proof of the fact that this will continue. “Farmers have always been hailed in India and this will continue. The victory of the farmers’ struggle is proof of this. Jai Kisan,” She tweeted in Hindi.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that farmers of the country have taught us all how to fight for the right with patience. “Today, the farmers’ agitation has completed one year. This historical agitation faced many conspiracies along with heat-cold and rain-storm. The farmer of the country taught us all that how to fight for the right with patience. I salute the courage, courage, spirit and sacrifice of the farmer brothers,” he tweeted.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale demanded strict action against the farmers who were not going back home. Speaking to a news agency, Athawale said, “Farmer leaders were saying that till the law is not repealed they will not return home. When the Union Cabinet already approved the decision to repeal the laws, Rakesh Tikait and other farmer-leaders should end the agitation and go home. If they do not go back home, then strict action should be taken against them. It is my demand.”
Meanwhile, the Delhi police has increased security arrangements at various points of the national capital, following threats from Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait that 60 tractors would head to Parliament in the national capital on 29 November as part of the tractor march to press for a statutory guarantee of MSP for crops.