The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) threw its weight behind an ongoing youth-organised protest in Delhi on Monday, with those gathered pressing for the removal of Gyanesh Kumar from the Chief Election Commissioner post and the cancellation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process for electoral rolls. Nationwide rallies were called for by the SKM as a show of backing for those taking part in the protests.
At a gathering of the organisation's members convened in Karnal — drawing leaders and delegates from across several states — the SKM adopted the resolution, with its official statement affirming that support for protest movements throughout the country had formed part of its standing position and would continue to do so. Backing for the young demonstrators gathered in Delhi was voiced by the group in its statement.
Speaking to reporters after the gathering concluded, Bharatiya Kisan Union representative Rakesh Tikait announced that farmers would stage demonstrations at district and tehsil levels on October 23, with memorandums to be handed over to authorities at each location. A follow-up demonstration, set for 26 November, had been scheduled by the SKM.
Tikait indicated that farmers from the National Capital Region would gather for a demonstration in Delhi, with those based elsewhere convening at divisional commissioner offices across their respective areas. He relayed their position that collective action through public demonstrations remains the path toward national change, and argued that organised public pressure formed an indispensable part of forcing those in power to answer for their decisions.
On the question of Jantar Mantar losing its designated protest status, Tikait pointed out that gatherings of this kind had taken place at India Gate and the Red Fort in the past, and that demonstrators were prepared to carry on their agitation at whatever venue the authorities assigned.
Tikait contended that existing agricultural policies were driving young people toward urban centres while leaving farmers worse off. He further contended that policy decisions were tilting in favour of corporate interests, putting agricultural workers at a structural disadvantage.
Suresh Koth, who leads a farmers' organisation, raised concerns about what he described as irregularities in grain markets run by the Haryana government, contending that agricultural producers were not receiving the minimum support price for their output. Objections were raised over the move to open procurement to private operators, a stance rooted in farmers' resistance to having deductions taken from their payments.
Koth went on to allege that the Agriculture Minister had shown preference toward traders, pointing to a pattern of inaction despite multiple complaints filed over procurement irregularities and delays in getting harvested crops collected.
