A review meeting of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) was held at the Singhu border in Delhi today. The scheduled meeting attended by farmer union leaders reviewed the promises and assurances made by the Central Government on the basis of which the SKM had suspended the year long agitation. The meeting discussed the key issues of — the committee on MSP, the cases registered against farmers in various states, and action against Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni.

After the meeting, the farmer leaders addressed a press conference, where SKM expressed its dismay and anger that the Government of India has not fulfilled any of the promises of the letter dated 9th December on the basis of which it decided to withdraw the morchas from the borders of Delhi.

In a press bulletin released by SKM, many important decisions were announced regarding the programs and future direction of the SKM.

• Samyukta Kisan Morcha calls for observing a nationwide “Day of Betrayal” on 31 January against the government’s reneging on its assurances to the farmers

• Samyukta Kisan Morcha will put up a permanent morcha against the brazen and insensitivity of the BJP in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre case; Mission Uttar Pradesh will continue

• Samyukta Kisan Morcha will endorse and support the nationwide strike announced by trade unions on 23 and 24 February

• The name of Samyukta Kisan Morcha will not be used in the election; farmers’ organizations and leaders participating in the elections are not with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha Press Bulletin

15 January 2022

In the Samyukta Kisan Morcha meet held at Singhu border in Delhi today, many important decisions were taken regarding the programs and future direction of the SKM. SKM expressed its dismay and anger that the Government of India has not fulfilled any of the promises of the letter dated 9th December on the basis of which we decided to withdraw the morchas. No action has been taken by the Union Government, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Government on the promise of immediate withdrawal of the case during the agitation. The Haryana government has done some paperwork only. The rest of the state governments have not even received a letter from the Union Government. The Uttar Pradesh government has not initiated any action on giving compensation to the martyred farmers’ families. No announcement has been made by the Haryana government regarding the amount and nature of compensation. On the issue of MSP, the government has neither announced the formation of the committee, nor has given any information about the nature of the committee and its mandate.

To protest against this betrayal of the farmers, the SKM has decided that on 31st January, Day of Betrayal will be observed across the country and large protest demonstrations will be organized at the district and block levels.

It is clear from the brazen attitude of the government and the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre that it does not care about the dignity of public life. Despite the conspiracy been acknowledged in the SIT report, Ajay Mishra Teni, the main conspirator of this incident, remaining in the Union Cabinet is adding salt to the wounds of the farmers. On the other hand, the Uttar Pradesh Police is over active in implicating and arresting the farmers named in this incident. To oppose this, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha will announce a permanent morcha in Lakhimpur Kheri. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha has made it clear that “Mission Uttar Pradesh” will continue, through which this anti-farmer politics will be taught a lesson.

On 23 and 24 February, the central trade unions of the country have called for a nationwide strike on issues like withdrawal of the four anti-labour codes, as well on issues of MSP to farmers and against privatization. SKM will endorse and support this call in the form of a rural strike.

About the decision of some constituent organizations of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha to field candidates in the elections in Punjab, it was clarified that SKM has always prohibited any use of its name, banner or stage by any political party. The same applies to elections. It was decided that the name or banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha would not be used by any political party or candidate  in the elections. Any farmer organization or leader associated with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, contesting the elections or playing major role in elections on behalf of a party, will not remain in the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. If needed, this decision will be reviewed after the assembly elections in the month of April.

Regarding the announcement of some constituent organizations to field candidates by forming parties in Punjab elections, SKM clarified that from the very beginning, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha has made it a limitation that no political party can use its name, banner or platform. The same rule applies in elections as well. The name or banner or platform of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha shall not be used by any party or candidate in the election. Any farmer organization or leader associated with the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, contesting elections, or who plays a key role for any party in the election, will not remain in the Samyukta Kisan Morcha. If needed, this decision will be reviewed in the month of April after these assembly elections.

*Issued by*-

Dr. Darshan Pal, Hannan Molla, Jagjit Singh Dallewal, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Shivkumar Sharma (Kakka ji), Yudhveer Singh, Yogendra Yadav

*Samyukta Kisan Morcha*

Email: samyuktkisanmorcha@gmail.com