Farmers launch 3-day protest on Chandigarh-Mohali border, demanding MSP, debt write-off
Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) launched a three-day protest at the Mohali-Chandigarh border on Sunday over the pending demands of farmers.
One of the protestors, while speaking to ANI, said, «Corporate is looting and their lakhs and crores of rupees in debts are written off but not those of the farmers. These debt traps are driving our farmer friends to suicide.
Through this protest, we are raising a demand that the loans or debts of farmers be written off at the earliest. The same was promised by the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some state governments, too, made similar commitments.»
«We are holding the three-day protest to put forward this demand and are getting the farmers ready for a bigger agitation in the coming days,» he said, adding that when large gatherings happen in other states over MSP, debt write-offs and waivers, among other issues, then a collective campaign and movement directed at the Delhi, the country's power capital, will be set in motion.
On the march to Chandigarh Raj Bhavan, the protestor said, «As of now, this is a three-day protest and further decisions will depend upon the kind of response we receive from the government.»
Samyukt Kisan Morcha is an umbrella organisation comprising farmer unions from Punjab and other states.
Some of the demands being raised by SKM through these protests include a guarantee for MSP (Minimum Support Price) from the central government, withdrawal of cases registered against farmers during the year-long agitation against the now-repealed farm laws, waiver of debt, pension for farmers, etc.
The farmers are also demanding the withdrawal of FIRs registered for burning their crop residue and compensation for crop damage
