Chandigarh, 5 January 2025: A farmers' mahapanchayat in Tohana held on Saturday passed a resolution rejecting the draft National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing, denouncing it as “more dangerous” than the repealed farm laws.
Addressing the gathering, Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Rakesh Tikait cautioned the government against proceeding with the policy, threatening renewed protests at Delhi borders.
“This framework undermines state governments' federal rights and threatens the livelihood of farmers, agricultural workers, and small traders,” he said, criticizing the absence of provisions for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and minimum wage guarantees.
Tikait also announced similar panchayats nationwide, with another scheduled for January 7 to bolster opposition to the draft.
The SKM, known for leading the year-long protests against the now-repealed farm laws, reiterated its concerns over federal rights being "crushed."
Tikait demanded immediate dialogue with protesting farmers at Shambhu and Khanauri borders and action to end the hunger strike of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. “If anything happens to Dallewal Ji, the government will face severe consequences,” he warned.
Farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said SKM's general body would meet in Delhi on January 24 to strategize.
“The framework violates constitutional provisions by encroaching on state rights over agriculture, land, and markets,” he alleged.
He urged village panchayats to pass resolutions opposing the policy and submit formal objections to the Centre by January 10. “This is an attempt to reintroduce elements of the repealed farm laws,” Ugrahan added.
Previously, the SKM had criticized the policy draft for lacking commitments to ensure remunerative MSP, a key recommendation of the late M.S. Swaminathan-led National Commission on Farmers.
The SKM also asked political parties to declare their positions on the proposed framework, describing MSP as central to the ongoing national discourse.
Echoing these concerns, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had accused the government of India of attempting to repackage the scrapped farm laws in the guise of the new policy draft.