Kisan Mahapanchayat in Narkatiaganj
A farmers, Mahapanchayat was held in Narkatiaganj in Bihar on 5 January 2021.
Speaking at the Mahapanchayat, kisan leaders said that even after more than one month of the farmers' movement the Modi government is busy hatching all kinds of conspracies and false propaganda to defame the farmers. Farmers at the Delhi borders are daily being subjected to repression through false cases, lathi-charge tear gas, water canons, pepper sprays and other forms of torture. The Mahapanchayat demanded the repeal of the 3 black anti-farm laws and resolved to continue the struggle to save the country from this onslaught on the people by the Modi government.
CPIML MLA from Sikta Virendra Prasad Gupta said that farmers of Champaran and Bihar had been at the forefront of the historic struggles against British Company Raj. Today the fight is against Adani-Ambani Company Raj. When Parliament, Chief Minister, leaders and officials do not resolve the people's issues, the people come out on the streets and resolve the issues. The people have now camped on the borders of Delhi for the repeal of the 3 anti-farm laws. Similarly in Bihar paddy is not being procured and sugar cane farmers are not being paid for their crops. The farmers of Bihar will also resolve their issues on the streets. He appealed to farmers to participate in the indefinite dharna at District HQs from 6 January and make the human chain program across Bihar a resounding success.
AIKM State President Visheshwar Yadav said that sugar cane farmers have been supplying sugar cane to sugar mills for more than 2 months but till today the sugar cane price has not been fixed. The sugar mills are holding sway with Loot Raj and the Delhi and Patna governments are siding with them. Sugar cane prices have not been increased for the last 3 years. Farmers are being looted through increased diesel prices and GST. Crop input prices have skyrocketed. He demanded sugar cane price to be fixed at Rs 400 per quintal.
AIKM District Convener Sunil Kumar Rao said that all sugar cane in the 'rejected' category by the sugar mills should be placed in the general category. He further said that sugar cane was being short-weighed and weighing machines controlled by farmers' organizations should be installed in front of sugar mill gates to prevent short-weighing.
Kisan leader Akhileshwar Rao demanded transparency in sugar cane weight and supply. AIKM Joint Convener Indra Dev Kushwaha demanded guarantee of payment of arrears with interest to sugar cane farmers and cases to be registered against sugar mills and officials who default. Kisan leader Shujaat Ansari said that instead of procuring paddy at MSP the Nitish government is making token declarations on paper. All kisan leaders including Arun Rai, Ramraj Yadav, Fakhruddin, Suresh Dubey, Ibrahim Miyan, Shrikant Thakur and others demanded repeal of the 3 new anti-farm laws.
