Protesting farmers converge on Delhi
Thousands of farmers from across the country descended on Delhi on Monday for a two-day protest demanding a one-time loan waiver and increase in minimum support price for crops.
The farmers, under the aegis of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) comprising 184 peasant organisations, held a ‘Kisan Mukti Sansad’ at Parliament Street after marching from Ramlila Maidan.
It was the culmination of various marches that traversed 20,000 km highlighting the plight of farmers in the country, which started after the police firing on protesting farmers in Madhya Pradesh in June.
CPM leader and All India Kisan Sabha general secretary Hannan Mollah said the government has looted farmers by paying them less continuously and forcing them into debt. “This in turn resulted in the suicide of more than 5 lakh farmers in the country. We will not allow exploitation now. Farmers’ organisations have consistently demanded loan waiver. Now, any small waivers cannot work for farmers; we need a comprehensive bill to ensure freedom from the debt cycle,” he said.
