Farmers Rally Against Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Appointment to Agriculture Ministry

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) protested against the NDA government's decision to appoint Shivraj Singh Chouhan to the Ministry of Agriculture. The protest is rooted in the memory of six farmers killed in Mandsaur in 2017. The SKM has planned a meeting on July 10 to decide further actions.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) today voiced strong opposition to the NDA government's move to assign Shivraj Singh Chouhan the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Chouhan is held accountable by the SKM for the deaths of six farmers in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, during the farmers' protests in June 2017.

In an official statement, the SKM emphasized that the slain farmers were part of a significant struggle advocating for the MSP under the C2 plus 50 percent formula, comprehensive loan waivers, and protesting against the rising rate of farmer suicides. The SKM has called for a general body meeting in Delhi on July 10, which will be attended by farmers' leaders from across the country.

According to the SKM, the NDA's decision reflects the same 'arrogance and insensitivity' shown by previous BJP governments. The group stated that rural communities nationwide are incensed. Despite the repeal of contentious farm laws, the SKM accuses the government of failing to address the broader agrarian crisis and farmer suicides in its first Cabinet meeting.

The release of Rs 20,000 crore in arrears under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme is deemed insufficient by the SKM, which views it as a distraction from the need for a more substantial MSP. The group asserts that farmers must prepare for renewed, widespread protests to ensure farmer-centric policies. Further strategies will be discussed at the July 10 meeting.

Additionally, the SKM commented on an incident involving actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut being slapped by a CISF officer, condemning her remarks against the farmers' protests. SKM representatives will visit Lakhimpur Kheri on June 13 to support the families of martyrs and provide legal aid to wrongly implicated farmers.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)