Day 272
Toll 581+
All India Convention
For those who have given in to lapdog media blackout and government apathy, have either written off the farmers’ protest or are tired and bored of it, the news is: the protests are going strong.
Yesterday, in a major departure from how the BJP government has dealt with the protests over nine months, the Panjab chief minister announced a revised State Advisory Price on sugar cane. At Rs 360 per quintal, this is a Rs 50 increase in procurement price that remained static for the last 4 years.
One could read the raise as a pressure due to upcoming state elections. However, these elections are approaching in Uttar Pradesh too. Yet, BJP does not relent. In UP, sugar cane dues to farmers over years accrue to over Rs 20,000 crore. In fact, if you remember, Mahendra Singh Tikait’s famous Boat Club protest in 1989 was also on sugar cane prices. Hopefully, Panjab government’s decision will impact UP also and farmers there too will recover their dues.
In Panjab my reading is: given the Captain-Sidhu war in Congress, Captain has to show winnability. Plus, unlike the rulers in Delhi, now after 9 months, Captain knows the farmers’ resilience. That is why, the Panjab government decided to agree to farmers’ demands and end the strike in 4 days instead of prolonging it. The same government is yet to agree to demands by labour. I hope they do that too soon.
In the age of WhatsApp University, lapdog media propaganda, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha will be holding an ‘All India Convention’ on August 26 and 27, 2021, at the Singhu Border Stage, to disseminate accurate information on many issues.
More than 1500 delegates from 20 states are expected to take part. They represent the broad spectrum of organizations which have been leading the genuine and democratic movements of working people and democratic masses. These include organizations based amongst farmers, a landless and agricultural workers, rural poor, tribal people, industrial workers, women, youth, students, small traders, ex defence services personnel, teachers, medical practitioners, lawyers and others.
The Convention shall have 5 sessions.
August 26,
- from 10 am to 1 pm, Inaugural Session
- from 2 pm to 3.30 pm, Session on Industrial Workers and Session on Agriculture Labour
- from 3.45 pm to 6 pm, Rural Poor and Tribal people.
August 27,
- from 9.30 am to 12 noon, Women, Students, Youth and other sections of working people
- from 12 noon to 1 pm, Concluding session
Follow the Kisan Ekta Morcha page for coverage.