Indian farmers are protesting in the capital yet again. They are demanding various relief measures from the government including Minimum Sales Price for produce, rollback of GST on all kinds of farming activities, permission for commercial production of genetically modified crops, and increased financial support.
The ‘Kisan Garjana’ rally at Ramlila Maidan has been organized by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), a branch of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The BKS in a statement earlier warned that “the government will face trouble if it did not heed the farmers’ demands in time”. According to the organizers, over 55,000 will participate in the rally.
According to the BKS, farmers are demanding various relief measures from the government, including:
- A minimum sales price for their produce
- Rollback of GST on all kinds of farming activities
- Rollback of permission for commercial production of genetically modified crops
- The increase the financial support provided under the PM-Kisan scheme
Late last week, Mohini Mohan Mishra, all-India general secretary of BKS, rebuked the federal government in an interview, saying: “Even after 75 years of independence, farmers are still waiting for justice. At least they should get remunerative price on cost basis. Our rally aims to open the eye of the government. We will see if it happens with the peaceful rally. Else, we will explore other ways."
BKS executive committee member Nana Aakhre earlier in December said farmers, who provide food grains, vegetables, fruits, milk and the like, are “very disappointed” due to lack of returns to their farm produce, and are committing suicide due to it.
Source: firstpost.com