Farmers protest Agri Marketing Policy draft

Several farmers, under the banner of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), staged a protest in the city on Tuesday against a draft of the Agricultural Marketing Policy.

Farmers burned copies of the policy, and submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini through the district administration, demanding its immediate withdrawal.

The protesting farmers raised slogans against the government. BKU state president Rattan Mann said, “We are ready to sacrifice our lives, we will not allow the implementation of (the policy).”

He accused the government of attempting to reintroduce repealed farm laws through the policy, calling it a blueprint of previous laws that were widely opposed by farmers. Mann warned that if the policy was not revoked immediately, the government would face dire consequences.

Farmers from across the district gathered at Mahatma Gandhi Chowk, and marched to the Mini-Secretariat.

Mann urged the government to stop enacting “anti-farmer laws and policies”, saying, “The government must not act as an enemy of farmers. The National Policy on Agricultural Marketing — issued on November 25, 2024, by the Central Government — should be withdrawn through a resolution in the state Assembly, ensuring that it is not implemented in the state.” Mann said if the CM did not address their concerns soon, farmers would intensify their protests.

He said farmers would gather at Pipli on March 20 for a mahapanchayat to decide on future course of action. Protesting farmers also demanded a legal guarantee for the procurement of all crops at MSP, the withdrawal of amendments to the Electricity Act, cancellation of the Smart Meter Scheme, dismissal of cases filed against farmers during various protests, including those related to stubble burning, a bonus for farmers on wheat and other rabi crops, immediate disbursement of relief funds for kharif crop failures due to drought, clearance of pending compensation for previous crop losses and insurance claims, compensation for crops damaged due to hailstorms, timely procurement of mustard crops, complete waiver of farmer and labourer loans, immediate issuance of pending tubewell electricity connections, opening of new cooperative society accounts and availability of agricultural loans for farmers and others.