New Delhi: After protests by opposition parties and young people, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has also announced a protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). At a meeting of its National Council held in Karnal, Haryana, the SKM decided to take to the streets against the SIR on October 23. The meeting called for large-scale protests at district and tehsil headquarters across the country on that date. It also decided to intensify the farmers’ movement and organise large-scale demonstrations in New Delhi and other parts of the country. The SKM’s state units will decide the locations of the protests. Millions of farmers are expected to participate in the demonstrations.
The SKM has warned against the alleged brutal action and harassment of protesters, including young women students, by the Delhi Police and alleged troublemakers associated with the RSS and BJP in New Delhi. The SKM said that if the Modi government continued its attacks on protesters, farmers would mobilise across the country to protect students and young people in particular. It maintained that the right to protest is a fundamental right and that attacking peaceful demonstrators is contrary to the Constitution and the law. The meeting also criticised the judiciary, including the Supreme Court, for allegedly failing to take suo motu cognisance of large-scale offences in the national capital or initiate immediate action, claiming that this had led to a breakdown of law and order.
The SKM has appealed to farmers and the public across India to unite in the struggle to protect democracy. It has demanded the immediate cancellation of what it described as the illegal SIR, the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar from office and legal proceedings against him. It has also called for the restoration of voting rights to all 13.41 crore citizens allegedly deprived of their franchise. In addition, the SKM has demanded an amendment to the 2023 Act to include the Chief Justice of India, instead of a Cabinet minister, on the selection panel.
November 26 marks the sixth anniversary of the historic farmers’ movement that began at the Delhi borders. The SKM has urged farmers to prepare for a prolonged struggle and organise protests lasting several days until all seven of their key demands are met.
These demands include making the MSP formula of C2 plus 50 per cent a legal guarantee; rejecting free trade agreements (FTAs); waiving farm loans and providing compensation of ₹25 lakh to the families of farmers who died by suicide; ensuring pensions and insurance; preventing the privatisation of electricity; repealing the Seed Bill 2025; protecting the land rights of farmers and tribal communities; opposing the implementation of the four Labour Codes; and restoring the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The meeting was chaired by a seven-member presidium comprising Ashok Dhawale, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Rakesh Tikait, Rajan Kshirsagar, Dr Sunilam, Jagtar Singh Bajwa and Joginder Singh Nain. Ratan Singh Mann delivered the welcome address, while P. Krishnaprasad presented the agenda. A total of 39 members participated in the discussion. The meeting was attended by 142 delegates from 17 states.