Reports of effigy burning, torch light procession and demonstration by farmers to protest murder of the young farmer Shubhkaran Singh received from all the states of India. Workers, student, women and youth widely participated in the protest action reflecting anger among people against state repression of farmers. SKM has called for observing 26 February 2024 as “Quit WTO Day”.

Groundxero | 23 February, 2024

The deep anger among the farmers and workers across India on the murder of the young farmer Shubhkaran Singh at Kannouri border of Punjab by the Haryana Police and the Union Home Ministry under Amit Shah was reflected in wide spread observation of Black Day/ Aakrosh Day on Friday, 23rd February 2024.

Reports of effigy burning of Union Minister Amit Shah, Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar and State Home Minister Anil Vij have been received from all the states of India. Torchlight processions also took place widely in the villages and towns. Farmers, workers, students, women and youth widely participated in the protest actions.

Effigy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Haryana CM ML Khattar and State Home Minister Anil Vij burned widely reflecting anger among people against state repression on farmers – SKM

Pathankot in Punjab

In Kerala

Ranchi, Jharkhand

The protest action was called by SKM in support of its demands and against the state repression of farmers’ struggle, and to pay homage to martyred Shubhkaran Singh, who died in police firing on 21 February, when Haryana police crossed the Punjab border illegally and shot at the protesters. The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions, Independent/ Sectoral Federations had also called for observing the Black Day on Friday, saying that farmers and workers would coordinate to make the protest against state repression on farmers successful at district, local and village level.

The Bhagwant Mann government of Punjab has announced to give Rs 1 crore compensation and employment to one family member of martyred Shubhkaran Singh. The family members of Subhkaran Singh have turned down the compensation offer and demanded registration of FIR against Haryana police before they consider accepting the offer for monetary compensation.

The SKM, while welcoming the compensation offer by the Punjab government, also reiterated its demand to the Punjab government to register FIR under section 302 of IPC against the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Haryana CM Khattar, State Home Minister Anil Vij and the police and revenue officers responsible for state repression and death of the farmer and constitute a judicial enquiry by a Supreme Court judge into the firing on farmers on 21 February.

Farming is a Loss Making Occupation in the “Amrit Kaal of Modi” – SKM 

SKM has strongly objected to the reiteration of PM Narendra Modi during his one day visit to Gujarat on February 23, that his “focus is on improving the lives of small farmers” and the larger prosperity of the rural economy, saying that it is “Modi’s guarantee”.

SKM said that the PM Narendra Modi cannot fool farmers and rural poor by paying lip service. It alleged that farming has become a “Loss Making Occupation in the ‘Amrit Kaal’ of Modi”. SKM said that it is aware of “Modi’s guarantee” to only the corporate sector. To give an instance, the SKM pointed out how during the Modi-rule, the tax burden has shifted from corporates to common people. SKM said that studies in the last 10 years indicate that “personal income tax collections have increased by 117% while corporate tax collections increased only by 28%” during this period. Modi has in fact reduced corporate tax from 30% to 22% in 2019. In the fiscal year 2021-22, Ambani’s Reliance Industries had paid only an effective tax rate of 16.5%.

SKM Demands, Before Uttering Again “Modi’s Guarantee”,  He Owes an Explanation Why Gujarat Pays the Lowest Wage in India for Agri. Workers – Rs 241 per day  

 

SKM pointed out that the indices of terms of trade (ToT) – the ratio of the cost of input by farmers and the prices they receive for their output – has stagnated and even turned negative implying that farmers are no longer making money. If TOT is lower than 100, it means farmers are making losses. The ToT was negative in 2004-05, but improved steadily over the next 6-7 years up to 102.95 in 2010-11. Since then, the ToT has turned negative and remained stagnant at 97.07 in 2021-22.

SKM also pointed out that the recent data on tractor sales in India, an indication for rural economic health, revealed that the first 9 months of this fiscal year have witnessed a steep decline in tractor sales. For instance, there is a decline of 33% in Maharashtra, 36% in Telangana and 21% in Karnataka.

Recent RBI data reveals that the lowest paid agricultural wage in the country – Rs 241 per day – is in Gujarat. If one anticipates 25 days work is available, which is not the reality – the monthly income of agricultural workers is Rs 241×25, Rs. 6025, which is highly inadequate for a five member family to live under the current rate of inflation and price rise.

SKM said that farming has become a loss making occupation in the “Amrit Kaal” of Modi, and his jumla on “doubling of farmers’ income” is increasingly getting exposed. SKM demanded that before uttering again “Modi’s Guarantee”, Modi owes an explanation that though he was three times chief minister of Gujarat and two time prime minister of the country, why Gujarat – the state he claims as the model for development – is unable to pay the minimum wage for a dignified life to its rural workers.

Observe 26 February as ‘Quit WTO Day’ – SKM 

To intensify people’s struggle to save agriculture, and against corporate loot, SKM has called for observing 26 February 2024 as Quit WTO Day as the WTO Conference is going to start in Abu Dhabi on the same day. SKM holds the WTO responsible for forcing the government of India to not grant MSP to farmers as well as for advocating dismantling of the PDS by arguing for its replacement by direct transfer of cash to the beneficiaries. Both the proposals are detrimental to the farmers, poor people and to the food security and the sovereignty of India, said SKM

SKM has appealed to the farmers of the country to march and park their tractors on national and state highways on 26 February, and hold mass meetings demanding QUIT WTO to protest government policies facilitating corporatisation of agriculture in India.

SKM has also announced a massive Kisan Mazdoor Maha-panchayat on 14 March at Ramlila ground in New Delhi as part of intensifying the struggle. SKM has appealed to the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions, other worker organizations/federations, all sections of the people including students, youth, women, and cultural activists, small traders to support in solidarity and participate in this struggle.  SKM state units will hold padayatra and rallies in front of Raj Bhawans in the state capital demanding to stop repression on farmers’ struggle and in support of the demands by coordinating with the JPCTU’s.