Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab Kisan Morcha head says ordinances not anti-farmer

Ludhiana: Before farmers started agitating against the farm ordinances, SAD was preaching in favour of these and Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who recently resigned from the Union ministry, was even terming these Bills as good for farmers. This was stated by Bikramjit Singh Cheema, president, Punjab Kisan Morcha, on Thursday at a press conference for highlighting the features of these ordinances so that farmers’ misconception were removed. He said farmers were being misled over these bills and that was why they were protesting on roads. The BJP Punjab Kisan Morcha president on being asked about the protest by Akali Dal said, “Why Akali Dal is protesting against this Bill whereas around June 5 they were in its favour and Harsimrat explained it to many farmers.” He said even former CM Parkash Singh Badal praised this Bill. He said only Akali Dal can explain their reasons for opposing this bill at this stage. Attacking CM Amarinder Singh, he said before giving a final shape to this Bill CMs from major agricultural based states were made members of a high-power committee but CM of Punjab did not have time to even attend the meeting. He said FM Manpreet Badal had attended that meeting and he had also praised this ordinance. He said they even approached the farmer organisations about this Bill before its implementation, but instead of resolving their issues they came on streets. Cheema while addressing the mediapersons said, “The Bills cleared by the central government recentlyweare not against farmers, and rather farmers would get a platform to sell their crops at a better price and companies could purchase the crops directly from the fields of farmers.” He said as far as MSP or question of grain markets is concerned, nobody is ending the tradition and recent revision in MSP by Modi government is proof of that. Cheema also claimed that farmers had this misconception in mind that their fields would be grabbed by Ambani or Adanis, whereas there is clear mention in the Bill that an agreement between a farmer and any private company would be about crop only and there would be no mention of fields. He said earlier private firms used to breach the contract while declaring the crop not up to the mark and farmers were forced to knock at the doors of court but this bill gives power to farmers that company would have to lift crop because government had been included in the agreement. “Moreover, if any company refuses to lift crop a farmer can approach SDM and three members committee for decision within 30 days and if he is not satisfied with the decision then the DC can be approached. Even the DC will have to give a decision in 30 days. So, this ordinance also helps farmers to get rid of long court procedures,” he said.

The Times of India

2020-09-25

Ludhiana