Farmers hold protest against FCI's new procurement norm
Chandigarh, March 19, 2021: On the call of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, farmer unions stage demonstration at various places against new specification in the procurement of wheat and paddy set by Food Corporation of India (FCI).
"In addition to being unresponsive to protesting farmers' legitimate demands, the Government of India's Food Corporation of India has brought in new quality specifications and procurement norms in a direct attack on the procurement regime and the ongoing protests," stated SKM.
In Punjab, farmer unions joined hands with Arhtiya Association representatives in several places in their protest today. The demonstrations were staged in various places including Sangrur, Barnala, Jagraon, Rampura, and other places, protest meetings were also organized against the new FCI guidelines. Similarly, memorandums were submitted to Deputy Commissioners.
On the Shahadat Diwas of Muzara Lehar movement martyrs (a movement in the early twentieth century that secured rights for oppressed tenant farmers), the family members of the martyrs were felicitated at the Tikri Border protest site today. They were welcomed warmly into the protest there.
"SKM extends its full support to the call given by Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions against privatisation of public sector entities and against 4 recently enacted labour codes. The protests planned at Panchayat, tehsil and district level on 24th and 25th March have the support and solidarity of SKM," stated farmer leader Dr Darshan Pal.
In Bihar's Sitamarhi, thousands of farmers took part in a Kisan Mahapanchayat organized there.
On Thursday, Satyagrah Yatra was started from Barwani Rajghat (Madhya Pradesh).
A Kisan Mahapanchayat organized in Odisha saw a massive turnout of Odia farmers joining the movement. Senior leaders of SKM took part in this Jan Sabha organised by Odisha Navnirman Krushak Sanghatan.
On the 14th day of the Kisan Mazdoor Jagriti Yatra that set off in Uttarakhand, it reached Sitapur in UP where it received a warm welcome. Traders associations joined the public, and committed to make the Bandh call of 26th a success.