Farmers plan ‘Tractor March’ to Parliament to push for MSP guarantee

Farmers will join the proposed ‘Tractor March’ to Parliament to raise their demands, including a guarantee to purchase crop at the minimum support price (MSP).

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait has called upon farmers and supporters to send 30 tractors and 500 people to the Ghazipur border every day, during the winter session of Parliament.

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait has called upon farmers to send 30 tractors and 500 people to the Ghazipur border every day, during the winter session of Parliament. (HT PHOTO.)

These farmers will join the proposed ‘Tractor March’ to Parliament to raise the farmers’ demands, including a guarantee to purchase crop at the minimum support price (MSP).

Speaking to HT over the phone, Tikait said that the winter session of Parliament was about to begin and so he had directed union office-bearers and farmers to send 30 tractors and 500 people to Ghazipur border everyday to take part in the march to Parliament.

“We have made our plan for a Parliament March. Let us see whether or not they (government) allow us to proceed,” said Tikait who raised questions over the government’s attitude in accepting the demand of making MSP legal. The farmer leader claimed that only six per cent of the crops were being sold at MSP and farmers had resorted to selling the remaining 94 per cent in the market at lower prices.

Questioning why the government could not procure the entire crop at MSP when traders were able to purchase 94 per cent of it and sell it further in the market, he said that the issue of MSP was important for improving the financial condition of farmers across the country and the ‘andolan’ (agitation) would end only after the government accepted all the demands of the farmers.

However, he said that the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha would decide the future course of action in its meeting.

BKU leaders have started reaching out to farmers and union supporters in villages to gather support at the Ghazipur border during the winter session of Parliament. The union’s Moradabad division president Digamber Singh, who has given a call to farmers to ensure their presence at Ghazipur border, said, “Meetings are being organised in villages to apprise farmers about the movement after withdrawal of the three contentious farm laws and to ensure their presence in the movement to push the demand for the guarantee of MSP.”