New Delhi, Nov 9 (UNI) The All-India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Samiti (AIKSCS) is not preparing to fight elections, the leaders of the Samiti said here on Thursday after announcing their plan to launch a massive “Kisan Ki Loot” protest meeting here on November 20.
``The Samiti leaders may be affiliated to different political parties, but they have no political agenda. Their only agenda is to raise farmers issues with the government that has reneged on its promise to give cost of production plus 50 per cent for farmers produce, leading to distress,’’ the leaders said.
More than 180 farmers organisations under the AIKSCC will hold the protest meeting here to press their demands for higher remunerative prices for farm produce and complete waiver of unpaid loans by farmers.
It is expected that over one lakh farmers, including women, will hold a ``Parliament” on Parliament Street on that day and pass a ``Bill’’ that will include the two demands. There will be several sessions that will raise farmers issues.
On the issue of the Rakesh Tikait-led Bhartiya Kisan Union keeping away from the Samiti, the AIKSCC said they were in touch with them but had not received a response.
The BKU has also threatened to hold a separate agitation next March if their demands were not met. They too are seeking total loan waiver, higher MSP and a special package for widows whose husbands committed suicide over agrarian crisis.
The AIKSCC leaders said,``Crop prices have crashed across regions and all major crops are selling below their prices last year, much lower than the Minimum Support Prices fixed by the government. Considering that the cost of production plus 50 per cent is the fair remunerative price promised by the government, the financial loss faced by farmers in one season is estimated at Rs. 2.03 lakh crore. This is the true extent of `Kisan Ki Loot' in seven major crops, which is pushing farmers into debt.’’
Among those who addressed the press conference were Raju Shetty of Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathan, Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj Abhiyan, Medha Patkar of National Alliance of People’s Movements, Hanna Mullah of All-India Kisan Sabha, Sunilam of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, Asish Mittal of All-India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha and VM Singh, Convener of AIKSCC.
UNI GP AE 1748