Opposition to three bills related to agriculture passed in Parliament is now gaining momentum in the streets. Farmers’ organizations have called a Bharat Bandh on Friday (25 September) against agricultural bills. Farmers from other states of the country including Punjab, Haryana, UP, Maharashtra are going to join this Bharat Bandh of farmers.
Various farmer unions, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union, have announced that they will block the drive today against this bill. It is believed that this protest has the support of many opposition parties including Congress. It is being told that 31 farmer organizations have joined hands for Bharat Bandh. Several organizations, including the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), have said that they have supported a nationwide strike called by some farmer organizations against the bills.
Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson and UP farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said that farmers organizations from all over the country including Punjab, Haryana, UP, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka will unite in Chakka Jam. On the other hand, the three-day rail roko movement of farmers against agricultural bills is also going on in Punjab. This rail stop movement will run from Thursday 24 October to 26 October. In view of this movement, the Ferozepur Railway Division has stopped the operation of special trains.
Not only this, Railways have canceled the operation of 26 trains till 26 September in view of the movement. The trains which have been suspended are
Golden Temple Mail (Amritsar-Mumbai Central), Jan Shatabdi Express (Haridwar-Amritsar), New Delhi-Jammu Tawi, Karmabhoomi (Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri), Sachkhand Express (Nanded-Amritsar) and Shaheed Express (Amritsar-Jayanagar) suspended trains. The list includes.
During the protest, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has appealed to the farmers to maintain law and order and follow all the rules related to corona virus. He said that the state government was fully with the farmers in the fight against the bills and no FIR would be filed for violation of section 144.
The Chief Minister said that law and order problems should not arise during the strike. He appealed to the farmers to ensure that citizens do not face any kind of problems and there should not be any threat to life and property during the agitation.
Indian Farmers Union (Ekta Ugrahan) General Secretary Sukhbir Singh has appealed to commercial establishments, shopkeepers to keep their shops closed in support of the strike. Punjab Congress President Sunil Jakhar has also requested people to support the farmers and make the strike a success. The main opposition Aam Aadmi Party has already given its support while the Shiromani Akali Dal has announced the closure of the road.
Against the bills, farmers started a three-day rail roko demonstration and staged on the tracks at several places in Punjab on Thursday. Farmers’ organizations have also decided to start indefinite rail roko demonstrations from October 1. The protesters have expressed fears that the Center’s agricultural reforms will end the minimum support price system and the agricultural sector will go into the hands of big capitalists. The farmers have said that they will continue their fight till all the three bills are withdrawn.
Haryana Bhakiyu chief Gurnam Singh said that apart from his organization, some other farmer organizations have also supported the nationwide strike. Singh said, “We have appealed that there should be dharna on the highways of the state and peaceful protest on other roads.” No one should picket on national highways. Singh said that one should not engage in any kind of illegal work during the strike from 10 am to 4 pm. The Bakiu leader said commission agents, shopkeepers and transporters have also been requested to support the strike.
What are in the bill?
- Agricultural Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill:
You can sell the product anywhere. You will get better prices. There will be online sales. - Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Agricultural Services: Farmers’ income will increase. Middlemen will end. The supply chain will be ready.
- Essential Items (Amendment): Cereals, pulses, edible oils, potatoes, and onions will no longer be compulsory items. They will be stored. Foreign investment in agriculture will be attracted
Why is this bill opposed?
- Mandis are over, then farmers will not get MSP i.e. minimum support price. One Nation One must be MSP.
- There is no mechanism to fix prices. There are fears that this will give private companies a means of exploitation of farmers. The farmer will become a laborer.
- Businesses will hoard This will cause price volatility. Food security will end. This can increase the black marketing of essential commodities.
News Source: LiveHindustan
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