Ex-CM Harish Rawat observes ‘maun vrat’against agriculture bills passed in Lok Sabha

Item

Title

Ex-CM Harish Rawat observes ‘maun vrat’against agriculture bills passed in Lok Sabha

Description

Dehradun: Former chief minister Harish Rawat on Friday observed a “maun vrat” (silent fast) for two hours at the Gandhi Park against the three agriculture bills - the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, the Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill – which were passed in Lok Sabha earlier this week. Rawat, who has recently been named Congress state-in-charge for Punjab, said that farmers across the country were protesting against the three bills as they were meant to “break their financial backbone". He asserted that farmers are apprehensive since “their land and rights are in danger”. The ex-CM said that the bills will override the Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism and put the land of farmers in danger. He further alleged that the three bills were a major blow to the small and marginal farmers as “they intend to support private parties in the agri sector”. He said that through his protest, he has “extended solidarity with farmers of Punjab, who are on an agitation mode on the issue.”

Publisher

The Times of India

Date

2020-09-19

Coverage

Dehradun