A day after the presentation of the 2024 Union Budget, which remained silent on the long-standing demand for legalised MSP, a delegation of farmer leaders from across India met with Rahul Gandhi.
The Leader of the Opposition was sought out in the parliament complex on Wednesday, where the INDIA bloc opposition leaders were protesting against what they considered a partisan and non-inclusive budget. The farmers’ delegation informed Gandhi of various issues they faced in their own states that needed amplification.
A 12-member farmer leaders delegation also reportedly requested to introduce a private member bill to address their longstanding demands. In a related development, leaders from the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha announced their plans to burn effigies of the Modi government nationwide and launch a fresh protest to push for the legalisation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee. This protest will include a “long march” to support the Opposition’s private bills.
“In our manifesto, we have mentioned MSP with a legal guarantee. We have done the assessment and it can be implemented. We had a meeting right now where were decided that we will talk to the other leader of the I.N.D.I.A alliance to put pressure on the Govt that MSP legal guarantee should be given to the farmers of the country,” Gandhi said after meeting farmer leaders.
Initially, the group of farmers was denied entry to Parliament. Speaking to the media during the Opposition protest, Rahul Gandhi questioned this: “Some farmers wanted to meet me, so I called them inside the office. But they were not allowed to come inside. You will have to ask the Prime Minister the reason for this.”
“Because they are farmers, maybe this is the reason they are not allowing them in,” said Rahul Gandhi. His remark may have recalled for many the barricading of Delhi borders against the farmers’ protest marches earlier this year.
Subsequently, the protesting farmers will take out a tractor rally nationwide on August 15, when the country marks Independence Day. They will also burn copies of new criminal laws.
