Andolans liberated India from colonial rule: Samyukta Kisan Morcha on PM Modi's 'andolan jeevi' remark

Protesting farmer leaders on Monday asked the government to fix a date for the next round of talks on the contentious agri laws

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the organisation spearheading the agitation against the three contentious farm laws, on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "insulted" the farmers and they are proud to be 'aandolan jeevi' as it was agitations that liberated India from colonial rule.

In a statement, the SKM targeted the ruling "BJP and its predecessors" saying they never participated in any "andolan against Britishers" and they were "always against the andolans" and are "still scared of public movements".

It also "questioned the commitment of the government in seriously and sincerely" resolving the farmers' demands. It also pointed out that the government is introducing the Electricity Amendment Bill 2021, despite assuring farmers' organisations of withdrawing the draft bill.

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The farmer leaders' comments came soon after Modi's reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in Rajya Sabha during which he urged them to end the agitation and reiterated the invite for dialogue even as he said reforms in agriculture was necessary.

During the speech, Modi referred to 'aandolan jeevi' (professional protesters) feasting like "parasites" on protests. He also referred to FDI as "Foreign Destructive Ideology" in an apparent reference to the agitation getting international support.

The SKM said, "farmers would like to remind the PM that it is 'andolans' (agitations) that have liberated India from colonial rulers and that is why we are proud to be 'aandolan jeevi'. It is the BJP and it's predecessors that had never did any andolan against britishers and they were always against the andolans, they are still scared of public movements."

The statement said that the farmers would be "more than happy to get back to farming" if the government at least now accepts their legitimate demands. It is the Government's adamant attitude that is creating more 'andolan jeevis', it said.

"Empty statements on MSP will not benefit farmers in any way and that such meaningless statements were made in the past too. Farmers will benefit in reality and in an equitable as well as sustainable manner only if MSP is made into a legal guarantee for all crops," it said.

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"The PM's FDI approach is dangerous too, even as we distance ourselves from any "Foreign Destructive Ideology". However, SKM stands with constructive democratic processes that uphold basic human rights anywhere in the world and expects similar reciprocation from all like minded citizens all over the world because injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, it added.

Protesting farmer leaders on Monday asked the government to fix a date for the next round of talks on the contentious three agri laws after Modi urged them to resume the dialogue and end their stir.

Shiv Kumar Kakka, a senior member of the Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, the farmers unions are ready for the next round of talks and that they have never refused to talk.

He said the government should tell them the date and time of the meeting. "We have never refused to hold talks with the government," he said.

Another farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar also said that the unions are ready for dialogue but insisted that the issue of Minimum Support Price getting legal backing is important.

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"If the government is claiming that MSP will remain, why doesn't it provide a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for our crops," Kohar said.

So far, the government and the farmers union have held 11 rounds of talks over the three farm laws but a consensus has eluded. The farmers have been insisting that the three laws should be repealed.

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said business over hunger will not be allowed in the country. "There will not be any business over hunger in the country. If hunger goes up, the price of crops will be decided accordingly. Those who wish to do business over hunger will be driven out of the country," Tikait told reporters at the Ghazipur protest site.