The protest against three controversial farm laws, which began last year, will continue, a farmers’ body said on June 14 to mark the 200th day of their agitation. Kisan Ekta Morcha, a farmers’ collective, tweeted that the “biggest protest in Indian history continues as it completes 200 days”. “Farmers are all set for an intensified protest” till their demands are met, the farmers’ body said.
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, began their protest in November last at three different border points of Delhi, demanding that the Centre repeal these laws. The demonstrations at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders also received support from social activists, some political parties as well as locals.
Over the past six months, the protesters weathered Delhi’s biting cold before the devastating second wave of the novel coronavirus. The farmers, however, continued their resistance.
Last week, on June 11, the protesting farmer unions announced that they will organise sit-ins at governor houses across the country on June 26. The day will also mark the completion of seven months of the farmers-led agitation against the news agricultural-marketing laws.
On June 26, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of over 40 farmer unions, said they will show black flags and send memorandums to President Ram Nath Kovind. Farmer leader Inderjit Singh of Samyukta Kisan Morcha told a press conference that the day will be observed as “Kheti Bachao, Loktantra Bachao Diwas (save farming, save democracy day)”.
“We will protest by showing black flags at Raj Bhavans and giving memorandum to the President through the governor of each state, who is the President’s representative. It (June 26) is also the day when Emergency was declared in 1975 and we will complete seven months of our protest. Along with farming, the democratic rights of the people have also been attacked in this environment of dictatorship. This is an undeclared emergency,” Mr. Singh said.
The government has said all these concerns are baseless and that the new laws are pro-farmer. The Supreme Court has put on hold the implementation of the laws till further orders and set up a committee to examine the issues.
Addressing the concerns of women protestors, farmer leader Suman Hooda said special committees will be formed and dedicated to the women at the protest sites. “We received some complaints from our women protesters. I want to assure them that these committees will only work to address any problems faced by them. Their contact numbers will also be shared,” he said.