Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers irked with Narendra Singh Tomar, PM Modi for linking stir to opposition

BATHINDA: All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) —the farm front which is spearheading the agitations on Delhi borders — on Friday stated that Prime Minster Narendra Modi had launched an “open attack” on farmers by claiming that they were linked to opposition parties. In place of addressing the issue of repealing the three recent laws which are detrimental to farmers’ and people’s interests, and pro-corporate, Modi has reduced himself to a party leader undermining his role as a responsible executive head of the country, expected to solve problems, said a press release issued by the farm front It said the Centre had allocated Rs 1 lakh crore to help corporate investment in agriculture infrastructure, while it should directly spend this money or give help to farmers through the cooperative sector. “PM should know paddy is selling at Rs 900 per quintal, though MSP is Rs 1,868 per quintal,” it said. Attacking Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar’s open letter to farmers, AIKSCC said the letter was full of references to the Congress, AAP, Shiromani Akali Dal and his understanding of history were not the issues which farmers were protesting against. AIKSCC said it would issue an open reply to the minister’s letter on Saturday. It asked the government not to spread falsehood about the protest, repeal the three laws and withdraw the Electricity Bill 2020 too. It said farmers were determined to continue agitating and were preparing to counter all false propaganda of the BJP. It claimed that the participation at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders was gathering pace, while preparations were on for strengthening other sites. In the meanwhile, AIKSCC criticised the UP government for imposing a bond on six farmer leaders for speaking the truth and inspiring the farmers to struggle. It has threatened a country-wide campaign against the move. “While the PM refuses to listen to farmers, UP CM Yogi Adityanath is imposing a bond of Rs 50 lakh on farmers,” it said. AIKSCC units are preparing for the Shraddhanjali Diwas on December 20, which will be observed in more than 1 lakh villages, said said the farm front. Dharnas, hunger strikes, torch marches and panchayat sabhas will be held under it. A massive rally in Mumbai is scheduled at Ambani and Adani’s office in Kurla Bandra Complex on December 22, said the farm front.

The Times of India

2020-12-19

Amritsar