Opposition parties back farmers' union's call to observe May 26 as 'Black Day for Democracy'

The joint statement was signed by opposition leaders Sonia Gandhi (Congress), HD Deve Gowda (JD-S), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena) and several others.

Picture credit: IANS

New Delhi: Twelve Major opposition parties on Sunday (May 23) announced their support for the farmer’s protest to mark the completion of six months since the beginning of the agitation against the three agri laws set by the government. 

Three days after the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of 40 farmers` unions, announced that it will observe May 26 as a ‘Black Day For Democracy’, opposition parties extended their support to the decision of the farmers’ body, according to news agency ANI.

"We extend our support to the call given by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) to observe a countrywide protest day on May 26 marking the completion of six months of the heroic peaceful Kisan struggle," read the joint statement issued by 12 major opposition parties.

The joint statement was signed by opposition leaders Sonia Gandhi (Congress), HD Deve Gowda (JD-S), Sharad Pawar (NCP), Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena), MK Stalin (DMK), Hemant Soren (JMM), Farooq Abdullah (JKPA), Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), D Raja (CPI) and Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M).

The opposition parties also demanded the immediate repeal of the farm laws and the legal entitlement to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) as well as the implementation of the recommendation of the Swaminathan Commission.

"We demand the immediate repeal of the farm laws and the legal entitlement to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of C2+50 per cent as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission," read the statement.

It further said, "On May 12, 2021, we had jointly written to Prime Minister Modi saying the following: "Repeal farm laws to protect lakhs of our annadatas becoming victims of the pandemic so that they can continue to produce food to feed the Indian people."

The Central Government must stop being obdurate and immediately resume talks with the SKM on these lines, the opposition parties demanded.On May 20, SKM gave a call to observe May 26, 2021 as a Black Day For Democracy.

"That is the day PM Narendra Modi led Government took oath of office in 2014 and then again on 30th May in 2019. 26th May is the day when the Chalo Dilli Kisan Andolan completes six months. It is also the day when the All India Strike called by the Central Trade Unions becomes six months old," read an official release by the SKM.

Elaborating about the call, the farmers` body alleged that the central government, which has been in office continuously for the past seven years, has not only failed to deliver on the tall promises made while assuming office, but is actually acting against the wishes of the toiling people with impunity.

The farmers` body had on Friday written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking resumption of talks with farmers over their demand for repeal of three new farm laws and said they will be constrained to announce further intensification of the struggle if they do not get "a constructive and positive response" from the government by May 25.

(With inputs from news agencies)