Farmers issue ultimatum before tractor parade

Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha has issued an ultimatum to the Central govt to either rescind the three farm laws or the farmers will march into Delhi on 26th of January and hold a tractor parade. The ultimatum comes before the seventh round of talks on January 4.

New Delhi:In a press conference organized by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha in the national capital, the farmers’ movement delivered an ultimatum to the Government of India. The farmer unions announced that farmers will march into Delhi on 26th January 2021 with their tractors, trolleys and other vehicles to hold a tractor parade. It was clarified that the "farmers' republic parade" will take place after the official parade.

Addressed the press conference, the farmer leaders said, “We intend to be peaceful and we told long ago to the Government of India during our talks that it has only two options – either repeal the 3 central farm acts or use force on us to evict us. The time has come for decisive action here, and we have chosen 26th January both because the Republic Day represents the supremacy of the people and also because we would have demonstrated patiently and peacefully at Delhi’s borders for two full months in extreme weather conditions by then our resolve to get our demands met”, said the farmer leaders.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha also announced their plan of action till the 26th of January. The protesting farmers intend to counter the government's “Desh Jagriti Abhiyan” from 6th to 20th with rallies, conferences and dharnas all over the country. Lohri/Sankarnati will be marked as Kisan Sankalp Diwas by burning the copies of these three laws. 18th of January will be celebrated as Mahila Kisan Diwas to underline the role of women farmers. Azad Hind Kisan Diwas will be marked on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary on 23rd January by protesting outside Governors' official residence in all state capitals.

In a press conference at Singhu Border, it was already announced yesterday that if the talks on 4th do not succeed, farmers will march on KMP Expressway on the 6th and subsequently the Shahjahanpur blockade will also move towards Delhi.

In the last round of talks, the govt had agreed to two minor demands of the farmers’ movement. The farmer leaders clarified that even those have not been secured in writing/legal form.

"On the demand to repeal the three central farm acts, the Government of India had asked the farmers’ organisations to come up with ‘alternative proposals’, and the farmer leaders responded by saying that there is no alternative other than repeal. The government has refused to agree, even in principle, to our demand for legal right to purchase at MSP," the farmer leaders said.

“We have no alternative and if the government does not meet our demand by the 26th of January, we will be left with no option other than to start marching peacefully into Delhi”, said Samyukt Kisan Morcha.

The next round of talks between government and farmer leaders is scheduled on the 4th of January.