‘Kisan Bachao Padyatra’ from August 16 to Delhi to press for farmers’ demands

From August 16 to 29, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) will lead a 13-day padyatra, or procession on foot, from Kanori, located on the Haryana border, to Delhi. The primary objective of this Kisan Bachao Padyatra is to advocate for farmers' rights and safeguard the future of agriculture. National co-convener Kuruburu Shanthakumar announced that the event would be guided by Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who previously engaged in a 130-day hunger strike in support of farmers' demands.

Key demands of the agitation encompass a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural produce, complete waiver of farmers' loans, an increase in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane to ₹5,000 per tonne, exclusion of agriculture from the proposed India-US trade agreement, and the withdrawal of all police cases registered against farmers during protests nationwide.

Additionally, Shanthakumar urged the immediate release of water to irrigation canals in the Cauvery basin, as over 30 tmcft of water has already been allocated to Tamil Nadu. He emphasized the importance of the CWMA (Cauvery Water Management Authority) considering Karnataka's needs, especially in case of sudden rainfall decline.

Shanthakumar also called for the Centre to support the construction of the Mekedatu reservoir and issue a stern warning to Tamil Nadu against blocking the project. Regarding the Karnataka bandh scheduled on August 13, Shanthakumar stated that the decision regarding whether to proceed with or abandon the bandh would be made after consultations with farmer leaders.

The padyatra saw participation from over 150 farmers and farmer leaders, including Attahalli Devaraj, Bardhanapura Nagaraj, and Kiragasuru Shankar.