DECEMBER 9, 2021 marked the day when an epic one year long battle of the farmers of India ended in a magnificent victory. Peasants and workers from all over the country celebrated this sweet victory for over a week from December 9, and particularly on December 11, which was designated as the Nationwide Victory Day by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM).

Tens of thousands of farmers who had stayed at the Delhi borders for over a year since November 26, 2020 started returning to their homes in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, to a resounding welcome everywhere with sweets and flowers. The victory of the farmers’ struggle instilled confidence among the people of India and the world that a tyrannical communal regime and its unholy alliance with domestic and foreign corporates, and with imperialism itself, can be defeated. It was indeed a victory for sovereignty, for democracy, for secularism, and for the constitution of India itself.   

One historic battle has been won. But the war will continue. That was the message of V Day.

GOVT FORCED TO BEND AGAIN

On November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was forced to declare the repeal of the three hated farm laws. On November 29, they were actually repealed by both houses of parliament. On December 2, the repeal law received presidential assent. That was a historic victory indeed.

Six more issues of the struggle remained, and they were set out by the SKM in an open letter to the prime minister on November 21. On December 4, the SKM set up a five member committee comprising Ashok Dhawale, Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh Chaduni, Shivkumar Sharma ‘Kakkaji’ and Yudhvir Singh to negotiate these issues with the central government. The first draft sent by the government was rejected by the SKM in its meeting on December 7, and several concrete amendments to the draft were sent to the government the same night.

On December 8, the five member committee held its meeting followed by a press conference at the AIKS central office in New Delhi. After hard bargaining by the SKM, the government sent a revised draft which was placed before the SKM meeting on the afternoon of December 8. It was only when it was democratically and unanimously approved by all SKM leaders that it was sent back to the government for finalisation. On the morning of December 9, the government sent its official letter to the SKM, which was placed and approved in a massive SKM meeting at the Singhu border amidst tremendous enthusiasm.

The important last SKM press release of this farmers’ struggle on December 9 is given below:

“The government of India, through the secretary, ministry of agriculture and farmers' welfare, sends a formal letter to Samyukta Kisan Morcha agreeing to several pending demands of the protesting farmers – Samyukta Kisan Morcha formally announces the lifting of the morchas at Delhi borders on national highways and various other locations in response – current agitation stands suspended – battle has been won and the war to ensure farmers' rights, especially to secure MSP as a legal entitlement for all farmers, will continue.

“SKM dedicates the fabulous and historic victory of the struggle to around 715 martyrs of the movement, including those in Lakhimpur Kheri – SKM congratulates all the protesting farmers and citizens, and their supporters wholeheartedly for waging an unprecedented struggle and for the glorious gains of the movement.

“Farmers' unity, peace and patience have been the key to the victory and these will not be allowed to erode in any circumstance, vow the farmers – SKM decides collectively to stay alert and ensure that promises are kept.

“Considering that the nation is mourning the demise of CDS Mr Bipin Rawat and his associates, SKM decides to postpone all celebrations with regard to the victory of farmers, and celebratory rallies will be taken out day after tomorrow  (December 11), when farmers leave the morcha sites together in victory rallies.

“To ensure that the government of India keeps to its commitments made to the protesting farmers, and to chart out the future course of action, SKM will hold its next meeting on January 15 in Delhi.

“SKM thanks local communities at morcha sites profusely for their patience and support throughout the long agitation, and apologises to them for inconveniences caused – SKM also thanks trade unions, women's organisations and youth/student outfits who struggled along with farmers in this agitation, lawyers who extended legal aid and solidarity, doctors who set up medical camps and gave their untiring services, various religious bodies that set up langars and fed the protestors unconditionally and uninterruptedly, various progressive organisations that stood in support including human rights groups, numerous artists who were there constantly with the movement, numerous organisations that continuously and consistently responded to SKM calls for action, highway dhaba owners and people who gave space for the kisan andolan to run its organisational meetings, NRIs and international farmers' organisations and others who took up solidarity actions in their own locations,  hundreds of volunteers who participated by giving their sewa and many others including well wishers.” 

All these decisions were conveyed in a widely attended media conference on December 9 at the Singhu border.      

LETTER FROM GOVERNMENT

The letter sent to the SKM from Mr Sanjay Agarwal, secretary, ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, government of India, stated as follows:

“Keeping in view the demands raised by the ongoing farmers protests, and with the motivation of finding an amicable resolution, following are the government of India's proposals:

“1. The prime minister as well as agriculture minister have already announced the constitution of a committee on the MSP issue. The committee will include representatives of the central government, state governments, farmer organisations and agricultural scientists. It is here clarified that the committee will also include SKM representatives. One of the mandates of the committee will be to find a way to ensure MSP for farmers across the country. The government has already previously assured that the present levels of procurement at MSP will continue all over the country. 

“2. With regards to the police cases put on farmers in the course of the movement, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana state governments have agreed that the protest related cases will be withdrawn with immediate effect. 

“2 A. All cases related to the farmer protests registered against farmers and their supporters by the government of India and its related agencies, in Delhi and other union territories, will be withdrawn with immediate effect. The government of India will also appeal to other state governments to take steps to withdraw cases related to the farmers’ protests. 

“3. The Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments have principally agreed to provide compensation to farmers who died during the course of the movement. On points 2 & 3, the Punjab government has already issued public statements. 

“4. Consultations will be held with all stakeholders/SKM on the clauses related to farmers in the draft Electricity (Amendment) Bill. The bill will be placed in the parliament only after thorough discussions with the SKM. 

“5. Farmers have been freed from all criminal liabilities for stubble burning in section 14 & 15 of the law passed by the union government.”

In a statement, AIKS, after paying homage to the 715 martyrs of this struggle and while congratulating the farmers, workers and the people of India, said, “The main struggle against the three black farm laws is won, but the struggle to ensure the enactment of a law for MSP will continue. AIKS thanks all the supporters who helped directly or indirectly from India and all other countries. It would not have been possible to win this struggle without their help.”

The CITU, AIKS, AIAWU, AIDWA, DYFI and SFI in a joint statement, said, “The historic victory of the farmers’ struggle marks the success of democracy over the corporate driven authoritarian and communal forces that dictate the Modi government. This great victory of the peasantry and working class over the corporate and neoliberal forces will further strengthen democracy, secularism and the plural culture of India. This will also strengthen the struggles of various sections of the society against the neoliberal policies.”

The joint platform of Central Trade Unions in its statement, said, “We, the trade unions, will stand vigil along with the SKM, while carrying on the agitation for the rights of the toiling people, including the forthcoming all India strike on February 23-24, 2022 against the complete sell out of our national wealth and the atrocious onslaught on the rights and cruelest exploitation of the working people being carried out by the corporate-servile government at the centre. We consider worker-peasant unity as the priceless achievement of this epic struggle.”

The CPI(M) Polit Bureau issued a statement congratulating the farmers for the historic victory.