Demands unmet, farmer unions to start statewide stir from August 9
HARYANA Are demanding loan waiver, fixing MSP, implementation of Swaminathan panel recommendations
KARNA L: In a bid to put pressure on the government over their demands for loan waiver, implementation of Swami nathan Commission recommendations and fixing MSP for their produce, farmer unions in Haryana have decided to up the ante and start statewide protests ahead of the Independence Day.
The union members are now touring villages in all the districts appealing to the farmers to join the protest which will start on August 9. The newly formed Rashtriya Kisan Sangh of about 20 states has decided to start ‘Jail bharo andolan’ from August 9 to 15. Union leaders claim that thousands of farmers will join the protests in the state and they will court arrests in Kurukshetra, Sirsa, Hisar and Rohtak.
Also Rashtriya Kisan Sangh members will hold a statewide protest in Karnal on August 3. Sources said farmers will remove their shirts to protest the government’s apathy.
“We are touring all the districts and asking people to join the fight for the farming community ,” RKS member Gurnam Singh Chaduni said.
He said ,“The farming com mu- ni ty is facing the worst time. They are ready to do anything to protect their interests as the governments have totally failed to listen to their genuine demands. We will court arrest from August 9 to 15.”
“We will block roads if the police do not arrest us,” said another farmer leader.
The farmer leaders said that agitation will continue till their two major demands, including a complete loan waiver and implementation of Swami nathan commission, fixing the MSP for all agriculture produce, are accepted.
The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Mann) group has also decided to start the protest from August 9 by observing “Arthik Azadi” from this Independence day. Talking to Hindu stan Times, union leader Rat an Mann said ,“This time, we will repeat ‘August Kranti’ by starting the protest against farm- ers’ debt from Mahatma Gandhi Chowk in Karnal on August 9.”
“We will oppose the leaders of the ruling party as they have failed to give any relief to farmers in the three-year rule. Now, the farmers will notre pay their loans if the government does not announce a loan waiver as other BJP-ruled states have done,” he said.
Another farmer leader Sewa Singh Arya also held a meeting at Karnal on Tuesday and announced to start protest in the city from August 4.
“The government has failed to protect the interests of farmers who are suffering after the fall in prices of crops and vegetables. Time has come to awaken the government for the implementation of Swami nathan Commission ,” Arya said.
We are touring all the districts and asking people to join the fight for the farming community. Farmers are facing the worst time. GURNAM SINGH CHADUNI, farmer union leader