Kurukshetra/New Delhi, February 24 The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) declared a nationwide agitation against the proposed India-US trade agreement and other key policy issues on Tuesday, announcing that it would hold a "farmer-worker Parliament" at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on March 9, when the Budget Session resumes after a recess.
The decision was taken at the SKM National Council meeting held at Jat Dharamshala in Kurukshetra, according to a press release issued by its media cell.
More than 150 representatives from nine states — Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Kerala — attended the meeting.
The SKM said a joint Kisan-Mazdoor Parliament will be organised at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on March 9, the opening day of the next Parliament session.
From March 10 to April 13, the Morcha will hold Mahapanchayats across the country, starting from Barnala in Punjab, to raise awareness about what it described as the "dangers" of the proposed trade pact and other "corporate-friendly" policies of the Centre.
On March 23, Martyrs Day will be observed as Anti-Imperialist Day across India, the detailed plan for which will be worked out at the state level, the statement said.
The SKM reiterated its demands, including not signing the India-US trade agreement, withdrawing the Electricity Amendment Bill, Seed Bill, and the VB GRAM-G Act, repealing the four Labour Codes, and legally guaranteeing MSP as per the C2+50 per cent formula.
It also demanded farm loan waivers and effective implementation of the 2013 Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Act.
The Morcha said village-level meetings will be held across the country till March 9.
Farmers will also march to local post offices to send open letters to the President of India, seeking the dismissal of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, asking the Prime Minister not to sign the trade agreement, and urging the Union Finance Minister to withdraw a reported communication ending bonuses for wheat and paddy farmers.
From February 27, SKM delegations will meet chief ministers and opposition leaders in various states to oppose what it termed the Centre's "centralisation of powers" and to demand the restoration of states' taxation powers under the GST Act and an increase in states' share in the divisible tax pool from 33 per cent to 60 per cent.
Senior farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, who addressed the meeting, criticised the Centre's trade and foreign policies.
The meeting also condemned alleged police action against farmers in Punjab, Odisha, and Maharashtra.
A five-member committee was formed to hold talks with SKM (Non-Political), and a 15-member panel will be set up to interact with the Supreme Court-appointed committee on MSP-related issues.
The meeting was presided over by a seven-member praesidium which comprised Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Rakesh Tikait, Ashok Dhawale, Ashish Mittal, Jagmohan Singh, Rajan Kshirsagar, and Joginder Singh Nain. Participants also paid tributes to Chaudhary Chhotu Ram at the Dharamshala premises.
