4 min readLudhianaDec 30, 2024 02:52 PM IST
First published on: Dec 30, 2024 at 12:48 PM IST
When farmers in Punjab started their protest under the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha Non-Political (SKM-NP) at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders on February 13, they had a charter of 12 demands. After the death of Shubhkaran Singh, 22, on February 23, they also demanded those behind his death must be booked and punished. This month, the farmers also demanded that the draft national policy framework on Agriculture Marketing shouldn’t be implemented.
On Monday, the Punjab farmers called for a shutdown in the state in support of Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for more than a month seeking the implementation of their demands.
Here is a look at the demands being made by the Punjab protesting farmers:
1. A law guaranteeing the purchase of all crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers across the country, with crop prices fixed as per the recommendations of the Dr Swaminathan Commission.
2. A complete debt waiver for farmers and labourers.
3. Reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, should be nationwide, ensuring written consent from farmers and four times compensation based on collector rates should be given before any land acquisition.
4. Justice for the victims of the October 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence and punishment for the culprits.
5. India should withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO), and suspend all free trade agreements.
6. Pension for farmers and agricultural labourers.
7. Compensation for farmers who died during a protest against the now scrapped farm laws at Delhi borders, along with government jobs for one family member of each victim. More than 750 farmers died during the agitation. Though the Punjab Government has given compensation to the majority of the victims’ families, it provided jobs to only a few. Other states are yet to give compensation to many, claim union members.
8. The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020, should be repealed.
9. Under MGNREGA, ensure 200 days of employment per year with a daily wage of Rs 700, and link MGNREGA with agriculture.
10. Strict penalties and fines for companies producing fake seeds, pesticides, and fertilisers. They have also asked for measures to improve seed quality.
11. Establishment of a National Commission for chilli, turmeric, and other spices.
12. Implementation of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, ensuring the rights of tribal communities over water, forests, and land, and stopping the exploitation of tribal lands by corporations.
13. Justice for Shubhkaran Singh, who was killed on February 23 at Khanauri border when Haryana security forces were stopping farmers from marching ahead. The farmers have said personnel of the Haryana security forces and the officers who ordered action on farmers should be punished.
14 National Policy Framework for Agriculture Marketing shouldn’t be implemented. Farm union leaders say it is an attempt to implement the repealed farm laws through backdoors. As of now, feedback is being taken from states regarding this policy.
Members of KMM and SKM-NP last held a talk with Union ministers in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on February 18. Later, SKM-NP leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal wrote twice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminding him about these demands and even sent the details to the Supreme Court. The Centre hasn’t initiated any fresh round of talks with them till now.
Punjab farmers called for a state-wide shutdown in support of Jagjit Singh Dallewal. (Express Photo) 
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