Second Anniversary Of The Historic Farmers' Movement

The second anniversary of the historic farmers' movement was observed across the country on 26 November 2022, with powerful rallies and marches in all state capitals and many district headquarters under the joint banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). Farmers, supported by workers, students, youth, women and ordinary people, held massive protests and rallies in 25 state capitals, more than 300 district headquarters and numerous tehsil headquarters. In Punjab’s Mohali, more than 50,000 people joined the demonstration called by 31 farmers organisations. Purushottam Sharma, National Secretary of All India Kisan Mahasabha (AIKM) noted that the historic farmers movement paved way for building the unity among various sections of the society in the struggle against Modi government’s fascist attack on lives and livelihood of people.

According to SKM, more than 5 million people came out on the streets to join the 'Raj Bhawan Chalo' or 'March to Raj Bhawan' call of SKM, to register their protest against the anti-farmer BJP-led Union Govt and send Memorandum of Demand of Farmers to the President of India through State Governors, to intervene and stop the anti-farmer activity of the ruling party at the Centre.

Massive gathering of lakhs of people were witnessed at Chandigarh, Lucknow, Patna, Kolkata, Trivandrum, Chennai Hyderabad, Bhopal, Jaipur and many other state capitals. In Lucknow, around 20,000 people took part in the protest against Modi government pro-corporate and anti-farmer policies. Protest demonstrations were also held in Patna, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bhopal, Jaipur, Dehradun, Shimla, Pune, Ahmednagar, Nasik among other places in the country.

The demands include:

1. Legally Guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) at C2+50% for all produce for all farmers.
2. Freedom from Indebtedness through a comprehensive Loan Waiver scheme
3. Withdrawal of Electricity Amendment Bill 2022.
4. Dismissal and Legal Action against Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni, who is accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre of farmers and a journalist.
5. Comprehensive and Effective Crop Insurance Scheme to speedily compensate farmers for crop loss due to natural calamities.
6. Farmers Pension of Rs 5,000 per month to all marginal, small and medium scale farmers and agricultural workers.
7. Withdrawal of all False Cases registered against Farmers during the Farmers’ Movement.
8. Payment of Compensation to families of all farmers who were martyred during Farmers’ Movement.
9. Reduce fuel prices.
10. Withdrawal of taxes on grains.