Year-Long Farmers Protest Comes to an End

NEW DELHI: Farmers who have been protesting outside the national capital's boundaries for more than a year have finally agreed to call it a day following extensive discussions with the Union Home Ministry.

This follows the Centre's acceptance of all requests made by the agitating farmers.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella group of farmers' unions that has led the demonstrations, said yesterday night that their 14-month strike will end at 12 p.m. on Thursday, but only when they get the final version of the government's new plan fulfilling their requests. 

The requirements were as follows:

• Removal of all social unrest cases filed in all states and union territories, as well as under central government organizations, during this demonstration.
• All families of those who died as a result of the unrest will be compensated.
• In the case of stubble burning, producers have no criminal culpability.
• Before submitting the Electricity Amendment Bill to Parliament, the government must consult with the SKM or other farmers' organisations.
• The SKM will list out their membership in the panel and present it to the farmers. A committee to examine minimum support price (MSP) will be constituted.
• The country's current policy on MSP and its procurement would be maintained.

The farm unions have decided to call off the protests after the Centre agreed to take back all cases registered during the agitation and for stubble burning.

The government has also assured that it will table the Electricity Amendment Bill only after consultation with the SKM or relevant farmers' unions.

Moreover, the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh state governments, along the lines of Punjab, have also agreed to provide a compensation of ₹5 lakh and a job to the kin of deceased farmers. Finally, the demand to include only SKM leaders in the MSP committee – apart from officials from the states, Centre, and agricultural experts – has also been met. 

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