Farmers Movement Archive

Madhya Pradesh farmers take to streets, threaten stir over agriculture bills

BHOPAL: Farmers from across the state staged protests in state capital on Monday to protest the agriculture bills passed by the Union government. The farmers’ leaders alleged that the government has backed out and left the farmers at the mercy of the corporates. Farmers under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Mazoor Sang took out a symbolic march from Mansarovar complex to Board Office square and submitted memoranda to the officials. Similarly, farmers under the banner of Bhartiya Kishan Union (BKU) also handed over memorandums to the officials at district level. National convener of Bhartiya Kishan Mazdoor Sangh, Shivkumar Sharma alias Kakka-ji, who was in Bangalore addressing a farmers’ rally told TOI over phone that, “Farmers held a protest in Bhopal as it was the first day of Vidhan Sabha. As of now, we are organising awareness rallies in the entire country and telling farmers about the bills.” “The first bill aims at creating private mandis. We have demanded an addition of line in the Act that the produce will be purchased at MSP from the farmers, but this is not being done. Prime Minister tweeted after we staged protests in New Delhi that produce would be purchased at MSP, but tweet and law are two things. This is an issue of trust. It will throw farmers out of MSP. In Madhya Pradesh, a model Act was enacted wherein private mandis will be opened. Traders buying produce in private mandis will not have to pay tax. Thus traders will not go to the government mandis,” Kakka -ji said. “The second bill aims at throwing out several products from the essential commodities bracket. Thus, traders can now buy and hoard cereals, pulses as per their wish,” he said. “Then there is corporate farming and no provisions for appeal in civil court. Farmers can appeal to the sub-divisional magistrate, then collector and then the agriculture secretary of the country, but not in a civil court,” he said. Anil Yadav of the BKU said, “Government is calling off its responsibility towards farmers. Now corporates will decide their fate and farmers have no right to move court. We will not be able protest. Today, we could at least stage protest and approach government. Now, this will not be available as different traders will have different rates at different places, these bills aim at curtailing the power and unity of farmers. As of now, we are submitting memorandums across the state. And we will further intensify the protests.”

The Times of India

2020-09-22

Bhopal