Western UP's Kisan Sena warns of bigger protest if farm laws repealed

New Delhi : Terming the three farm laws beneficial for the farmers, the Kisan Sena representing Western UP's farmers has requested the government not to repeal them and warned of a bigger protest if they are withdrawan.

Representatives of Kisan Sena from 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh met Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday and extended their support to the new laws.

Addressing the representatives of the farmers' organisations, Tomar said the opposition parties who have not been able to do anything for the welfare for the farmers, despite being in the power for a long time, are raising questions on the reforms today.

Baghpat MP and former Union Minister Satyapal Singh, Kisan Mazdoor Sangh president Chaudhary Prakash Tomar, vice president Thakur Rajendra Singh, general secretary Baburam Ram Tyagi, Kisan Sena national convenor Gaurishankar Singh and other officials were also present in the meeting.

The farmers' agitation has been going on for the last four weeks at the borders of Delhi against the three farm laws enacted by the Narendra Modi government.

On Wednesday, the eve of the projected march to Delhi, Kisan Sena convener Thakur Gauri Shankar Singh told news agency PTI, "We have written to the authorities concerned for permission regarding our march to Delhi but have not got reply. In any case, around 20,000 Kisan Sena supporters will be en route to Delhi to meet Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday," he said.

"We want to meet the minister and inform him that the ongoing protests on Delhi's borders by unions from Punjab and Haryana no doubt comprise farmers, but they do not represent farmers of all India, or other states like UP," he added.

Meanwhile, in a representation submitted to Mr Tomar, another farmer organisation Hind Mazdoor Kisan Samiti secretary Satish, who basically supported the laws said on Wednesday "We urge the government to consider some amendments to ensure that the MSP procurement continues, farmers have the freedom to sell their produce within and outside mandis and that contract-farming should be on crops, not on farm land".

Besides these, HMKS demanded free education, medical and irrigation facilities for farmers, no restriction on the use of tractors even if those are 50 years old, a waiver on tubewell bills, a timely procurement of crops, withdrawal of the cases filed against farmers for stubble-burning among others.

(With inputs from agencies)