Farmers Movement Archive

Maharashtra farmers march to Delhi against new agri laws

NASHIK: Hundreds of farmers from various parts of the state joined their counterparts from Nashik district at the Eidgah Maidan in the city to march to Delhi in support of tillers from Punjab and Haryana who have been protesting against the new farm laws passed by Parliament in June. The farmers arrived from districts like Ahmednagar, Thane, Palghar, Solapur and Satara holding flags of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS). They were to take a halt at Chandwad on Monday night, proceed to Dhule the following day and spend a night there. On Wednesday, the farmers will enter Madhya Pradesh. They hope to reach Delhi on December 24. Leaders including AIKS president Ashok Dhawale and secretary Ajit Nawale, former MLA Narasayya Adam, MP KK Ragesh and Jayant Patil of Shetkari Kamgar Paksha (Peasants and Workers Party of India) and demanded immediate repeal of the new laws and warned that the country would witness unprecedented events if the Centre failed to so. They alleged that the three laws — Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment & Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill — were in favour of industrialists and businessmen. “This fight of farmers is against the Union government that has taken an anti-farmer stand. In a democracy, the voice of people counts. If the government believes it can get away with anything, it should be ready to step down as the agitation will end only with repeal of the three laws and nothing less,” said Dhawale. Nawale said, “MSP should be announced for every agriculture produce, not foodgrain alone, based on the calculation of 1.5 times the input costs. If the Kerala government can fix MSP, why can’t other states and the central government do it?” he asked. Kisan Sabha state joint secretary Manik Awghade from Satara said. “One person from every house has joined the agitation. We have come from Satara. We are carrying rations that will be required on our way from Nashik to Delhi. We will not require anybody’s help for food as our brethren from other states on the way will also join and make arrangements for us.”

The Times of India

2020-12-22

Nashik