A farmers’ march, led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal of the United Farmers’ Front, started from Kanniyakumari, aiming to advocate for legal protections and economic stability for farmers. Representatives from various states gathered at the southern tip of India to kick off the campaign, highlighting the deepening agrarian crisis. The marchers are pushing for urgent reforms, including a guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural produce.
Farmers are demanding the implementation of a nationwide MSP law to ensure fair crop prices and the execution of recommendations by the M. S. Swaminathan Committee to enhance farmers’ income and sustainability. They are also calling for the scrapping of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, claiming it jeopardizes free power supply for farmers, and seeking a complete waiver of farm loans. The padyatra will traverse multiple states, with farmers’ organizations joining along the way, culminating in a massive rally at Ram Leela Maidan in New Delhi on March 19.
Representatives from all states plan to continue the march to Kashmir to show national unity. They are seeking a meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on February 9 to present their demands.
