All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC)*

Press Statement | Delhi, 14th October, 2020

PUNJAB FARMERS ORGANISATIONS INCLUDING AIKSCC CONSTITUENTS BOYCOTT & WALK-OUT OF MEETING WITH AGRI SECRETARY

AIKSCC Constituents Strengthen Resolve to Ensure MSP as Legal Right of All Farmers & Crops as MSP Adhikar Diwas in Held in 100s of Locations Across India

AIKSCC fully supports the Boycott & Walkout by Punjab Farmer Organisations from the meeting called by Union Agriculture Secretary as the meeting was an effort to try and create a false impression that the Central Govt. is engaging with farmers, when in fact it is going all out to roll-out and enforce the black anti-farmer laws. The farmers and farmworkers of the nation are in continuous protest against these 3 farm/farmer/farming commodity related laws forcibly enacted by the Central Govt. In this backdrop, the meeting called by the Union Agriculture Secretary with the 31 farmers organisations of Punjab was just an attempt to manage headlines rather than  arrive at any solution, which was rightly called-out by the farmer leaders.

Led by AIKSCC and several other farmer organisations, farmers of India have put the following conditions which are are very reasonable and essential for any meaningful dialogue to take place:

First, the Govt. should be ready to review and if necessary repeal the 3 laws

Second, the Govt. should be ready to consider legislating MSP as a legal right, and deal with input cost, food security and other issues

The meeting with the Agriculture Secretary does not meet any of the criteria as a secretary cannot repeal, amend or enact new laws; rather his job is to implement the laws made by Govt so he is the Wrong Person for the Right Discussion.

In the meanwhile, as previously announced, AIKSCC Constituents held MSP Adhikar Diwas in hundreds of locations in more than 20 states of India. Marches, Public Meetings, Mandi Sabhas and other forms of protest were witnessed in Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat and other states. Resolutions were adopted that the struggle of farmers to make MSP a legally enforceable right shall continue till the Central Govt. enacts laws.

Media Cell | AIKSCC