Farmers Movement Archive

Farm Bills: Won’t sit and watch, says Tejashwi Prasad Yadav

PATNA: Leader of opposition in the state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Wednesday once again came down heavily on the NDA government over the farm Bills passed by Parliament. Tejashwi said the NDA had promised to double the income of farmers by 2022, but in reality farmers were becoming poorer. He also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s DNA remark on CM Nitish Kumar during the 2015 assembly polls. Tejashwi told mediapersons that farmers were already suffering in the country and the new Bills will worsen the situation. “They (NDA) used to say they will not let this country be sold, but now they have sold everything and are preparing to sell farm sectors also to corporates. Where is their promise of doubling the income of farmers by 2022? Food control has gone in the hands of private players,” he said. He said the Bill allows big corporates to directly purchase from farmers. “Are farmers strong enough to bargain from these corporate giants. When farmers cannot protect themselves from middlemen, how will they raise their voice against big players? Again, in case of payment issues, their grievances can be taken to the settlement committee. We know how many rounds a person has to take to get a file moved in a government office. Imagine the harassment of farmers if it involves another district or another state,” he said. The RJD leader said the Bill would further increase the chances of black-marketing as big corporates will store the produce in godown. “The worst thing is that in case of any natural disaster like floods or hailstorm, farmers alone will be bearing the burden of loss and not the company with which they will have a tie-up. We cannot sit and watch,” he warned. Targeting CM Nitish Kumar the in context of Bihar elections, Tejashwi said, “In 2015, why nails and hair were cut and sent for DNA test? Has the report of DNA come? The language which PM had used then for a CM was not appropriate. Still, you (Nitish) are getting posters with him. This shows that Nitish has failed and is now taking the help of Modi ji.” Tejashwi also alleged that public funds were being used in making such posters. Hitting back at Tejashwi, JD(U) state spokesperson Arvind Nishad said the opposition was creating an issue for taking political mileage. “In 2006, our government had done away with the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) for the benefit of farmers and the central government is doing the same now. Farmers will be independent to sell their produce anywhere in the country,” he said and added that RJD should also speak on the treatment meted to Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Harivansh. “How can they oppose unruly behaviour? RJD is the same party whose party members had bitten late Patna west MLA Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha,” he added. Replying to the DNA barb, Nishad said it was Lalu who had earlier said Jharkhand would be carved out of Bihar on his dead body. “The same Lalu compromised with the Congress and JMM to make his wife the chief minister of Bihar and let that division happen,” Nishad said.

The Times of India

2020-09-24

Patna