Sugarcane rates, MSP & trade deals figure at BKU night mahapanchayat in UP
The Bharatiya Kisan Union’s Muzaffarnagar night mahapanchayat highlighted key farmer concerns, including higher sugarcane prices, a legal MSP guarantee, fair land compensation and trade policy. BKU warned that proposed India-US trade agreements could hurt domestic agriculture and announced a statewide campaign, with a sugarcane-focused programme scheduled in Lucknow on October 23.
Muzaffarnagar: In what organisers described as the first major night gathering of its kind in Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) held a massive farmers’ and workers’ night mahapanchayat at Govt Inter College (GIC) ground in Muzaffarnagar on Thursday. Drawing a large turnout of farmers from Muzaffarnagar and neighbouring districts, the overnight assembly focused on pressing agrarian grievances, trade policies and rural livelihoods.
The mahapanchayat served as a platform to voice long-standing demands, prominently featuring calls for a substantial hike in sugarcane prices, with BKU leaders arguing that rates should be raised to between Rs 500 and Rs 600 per quintal. Discussions also centred around a legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP), rising input costs, electricity-related challenges and higher circle rates for agricultural land.
BKU announced that its campaign will continue with a dedicated programme addressing sugarcane-related issues in Lucknow on Oct 23.
On land acquisition, BKU president Naresh Tikait emphasised that farmers are not opposed to development, but firmly demand fair compensation when agricultural land is acquired for public projects.
A major talking point during the gathering was the proposed India-US trade agreement. BKU national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait raised alarms regarding the potential impact of American agricultural imports on domestic markets. He alleged that if US agricultural goods enter India under low or zero tariffs while Indian products face steep duties, domestic farmers could suffer immense financial pressure.
Tikait also voiced apprehension over potential imports of animal feed from the US, claiming it could destabilise the market for local agricultural by-products like oilseed cake and cottonseed. Furthermore, he raised questions regarding the suitability of certain imported feeds for Indian livestock.
Explaining the unconventional timing of the event, Rakesh Tikait told the gathering that farmers’ struggles cannot be restricted solely to daytime meetings, asserting that night gatherings are vital for training and mobilising workers. He warned that the Muzaffarnagar gathering marked the beginning of a wider movement aimed at creating a “revolution of ideas,” with similar meetings planned for other districts.
The event featured continuous discussions extending past midnight, followed by cultural programmes and traditional langar meals supported by contributions from various villages and groups. Tikait urged participants to maintain discipline and pursue their demands peacefully
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Source : The Times of India
